When faced with decisions, big or small, do you hear a little voice inside your head guiding you towards the worst case scenario?
"You aren’t good enough."
"You shouldn’t do that, you’ll fail.”
"They’re better at that than you."
Has that voice trained you to be pessimistic when faced with new or tough situations? Well, we’ve all experienced times when that inner voice starts to become more of an inner critic and begins to talk much louder than it should. A negative mind is powerful and can sabotage you and your potential.
But, a mind filled with positive thoughts, intentions, and solutions, has the power to obliterate any inner critic. That’s why today, I’d like to share with you 4 simple ways to silence those overbearing inner voices to start living the greatest life you deserve!
Start off positive:
Do you wake up feeling anxious or nervous about the day ahead? Are you worried about an upcoming job interview or test? It’s time to start making a conscious effort to begin the day on a positive note - and I mean right when you wake up! Keep a pad of paper or journal right next to your bed and reach for it as soon as you are waking up in the morning. This is a great time to write down your goals and set intentions, in the affirmative voice of course.
Each day you wake up is a fresh start to get ahead of your inner critic.
These can be daily goals, weekly goals, it’s up to you - just make sure you reference them every morning. Like an early workout or chugging down water first thing in the morning, you get to set the tone for a triumphant day. You are giving your mind no room to sneak in any self-limiting beliefs because you are combating self-doubt right away!
Don’t forget to be mindful:
It’s funny how that little voice inside usually tries to tell us the things we can’t do or why we’re not good enough. That’s why mindfulness is crucial. Often times we try to ignore our discouraging inner voice, but knowing that it’s there will help you face it head-on, so you’re not just dealing with life as it comes. To be mindful is to help yourself in overcoming challenges by dealing with life on purpose.
Learn to become in-tune with your inner thoughts so you can replace them with feelings of positivity and affirmation. Mindfully silencing your inner critic is being aware of precisely what to do when those inner voices start to creep in. Your inner critic is so deep-rooted in your conscious that it becomes the reason we begin to second guess ourselves. By understanding that your inner critic exists, you will realize how you can work through tough situations and the uncertainty of everyday life, with purpose and intent.
Get out of your own way:
In uncomfortable situations or times of doubt, it can be easy to succumb to thoughts of feeling like you aren’t good enough - that’s your inner critic talking. The good news is that there’s only one thing standing in the way of your true destiny - it’s you! Now that you know how to incorporate mindful thinking into your life, it’s time to start being fearless! And naturally, the sound of your inner critic will fade into the background.
Remember, you are the gatekeeper of your thoughts, not your inner critic.
Your inner critic starts by first grabbing your attention which causes anxiety to kick in. Anxiety causes us to feel confused and unsure, triggering stress - both of which have the power to drain you of your energy and willpower completely. You are sabotaging yourself of your true potential and destiny when you allow those inner voices to talk over you - causing both mental and physical effects. When you get out of your own way, you start living your life on purpose - you are telling the universe to make room for the things you love and enjoy.
Practice calming rituals:
Do you ever think about when you hear that inner critic? Well, it usually pops in abruptly and stops you dead in your tracks, like a boulder in the middle of the road. It’s that pit in your stomach or that rush of hesitation before facing a new task or challenge. The intensity of your inner critic can often cause you to react instead of think mindfully - Like, for example, immediately shutting down a new opportunity because your inner critic says you aren’t good enough. So, there’s no better way to drown out the sound of those inner voices than to find calming rituals to incorporate into your daily life. Calmness comes in many forms, like taking a few deep breaths throughout the day or even meditating.
So, let’s give it a try:
1. Close your eyes
2. Take one deep inhale
3. Hold
4. Slowly exhale
(repeat steps 2-4 as necessary)
5. Open your eyes
How did that feel? I don’t know about you, but I can already feel the self-doubt leaving my body - replaced with calmness and happiness. And the best part, I didn’t hear a peep from my inner critic! As you get used to this ritual, you will be practicing meditation or other forms of calming release in no time! So, to start, take a minute to try a few deep breathing exercises every day or as often as you can.
It’s going to help tremendously - you will start to feel like you can conquer anything! A calm mind is a mind at ease - fully capable and aware of tuning out those negative thoughts, releasing your past, and silencing those self-limiting beliefs.
Understand that life gets hectic sometimes, but know that you are in full control of guiding your thoughts and actions toward a better way of life! With these tips, you now have the tools to break free of the voices inside that are holding you back from achieving your highest potential. And if you’d like to push yourself a little further, check out these tips for early morning motivation! They are great if you need a little guidance in setting a morning routine for new beginnings - think of it as spring cleaning your mind!
And before you go, if you feel like you’ve done everything to silence your negative self-talk but nothing seems to work, I have something special for you.
It’s my FREE quiz that reveals what’s quietly sabotaging you and holding you back from your greatest life. Plus, after the quiz, I’ll give you tips on how to banish this success blocker for good. Go ahead and give it a try! ;-)