Do you ever feel like your own thoughts are holding you back? It’s normal to feel a bit nervous when stepping into something new, but what if that anxiety feels like a constant, nagging presence in your life? You might be experiencing the critical inner voice – a self-limiting pattern of negative thoughts towards yourself and others that can hinder you from reaching your goals. If you find yourself being your own toughest critic, don’t fret – there are steps you can take to quiet that critical inner voice and start living the life you’ve always wanted.
Voice therapy is a proven method to identify and distance yourself from your inner critic. By understanding the origins of your critical inner voice, you can learn to take actions that reflect your true beliefs and aspirations. Here’s how voice therapy works:
Step One: Recognising Your Critical Inner Voice
Start by noticing the self-attacks you encounter from your critical inner voice. Pay attention to what those criticisms are and express them in the second person. For example, instead of saying “I feel lazy and useless,” say “You’re lazy. You’re useless.” This format can help you articulate your critical thoughts more clearly, leading to insights into the negativity driving your inner critic.
Step Two: Understanding the Source of Your Inner Voices
As you vocalise your inner critic’s attacks, you may begin to recognise old patterns of familiar attitudes or phrases. Consider where these thoughts originated, and realise that the criticisms you face may stem from past experiences that now serve only to hold you back. Understanding and accepting this past can help you cultivate compassion for yourself and find new paths forward.
Step Three: Challenging Your Critical Inner Voice
Counter self-attacks with positive affirmations about yourself and your capabilities. If your inner critic tells you “no one cares about your thoughts,” respond with “My opinions matter. People value what I have to say.” Calmly reaffirming what is true about you can help counteract the falsehoods your inner critic tries to impose.
Step Four: Recognising How Your Voices Shape Your Actions
Notice how your inner critic’s negative thoughts have influenced your past and present behaviours. Recognise when you’ve listened too much to this voice and acted with less confidence as a result. Understanding the impact of its influence is key to moving forward with greater assurance.
Step Five: Changing Your Self-Limiting Behaviours
Once you’ve acknowledged your limiting behaviours, you can begin to change them. This involves consciously resisting your inner critic and making new, positive choices. If you’re shy, building new social connections may seem daunting, but you can start small. Strike up conversations with strangers and practise being more outgoing.
Overcoming the critical inner voice can be tough. Change is never easy, and the anxiety that comes with newfound direction and self-assurance can be overwhelming. Some believe that the critical inner voice keeps them in check, fearing that ignoring it will lead to negative outcomes. However, the more people resist their critical inner voice, the less power it holds over their lives. By following the steps of voice therapy, individuals become more authentic and capable of achieving their goals, breaking free from imagined limitations.
Even if you feel trapped in a cycle of anxiety and self-criticism, conquering your critical inner voice is possible. Through voice therapy, you can discover new ways of viewing yourself and your abilities. Begin your journey through the steps of voice therapy today and empower yourself to take control of your thoughts.
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Source Credits: _sophiedear
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