Do you sometimes feel like you are your worst critic? It’s sometimes good to have that voice telling you that you need to improve. If that voice persistently whispers that you are no good, that you don’t do anything right, or that you’re not worth anything, though, then it’s no longer helpful. That critic is now your saboteur—and that saboteur is keeping you from becoming who you can truly be.
Whether you agree or not, the truth is your inner voice matters. Just because you don’t say its words out loud doesn’t mean it’s not doing you harm. The truth is that it can be the reason you’re having anxiety or depression.
If negative self-talk is taking over your life, it can lead to worse situations that can even be life-threatening. One of the best ways to deal with that inner saboteur is to call a counseling hotline where someone will listen to you without judgment and give you sound advice.
Of course, no one wants to get to that point, so it’s important that you take steps to silence that inner voice that’s keeping you down. Here’s what you can do:
Be Aware of the Critic
The first step to gaining control of your life is to acknowledge that the negative voice exists. Most of the time, that thinking process goes so fast that you barely pay attention to your thoughts. Mindfulness is everything, here. Slow down and try to consciously pay attention to the way you think. In the process, you might learn a few things about that inner critic.
One thing you can try is to try writing down a few things about the situation when that negative voice speaks to you. The words don’t need to make sense. For instance, you can write “late for work” or “fight with sister.” By doing this, you’ll be more aware of the critic, and you’ll be more equipped to fight it.
Give the Critic a New Name
Your inner saboteur is sneaky. It doesn’t want you to take notice that it’s creeping inside you. It is happiest when you think of it as part of who you are. But that’s not true at all. You were not born with those negative thoughts. It may have been rooted in something that happened to you or caused by outside influences, whether it’s a traumatic situation or constant harsh criticism from others.
Separate your identity from that saboteur by giving it a name—even a silly one! By naming it, you’ll be able to put some distance between your truest self and the part of you that’s just sabotaging your well-being.
Talk Back to the Voice
To truly take away the critic’s power, you need to talk back to it. Don’t let it scare you and keep you quiet. Tell it that you don’t want to listen to its words and that you don’t believe anything it says. As soon as the voice starts talking, shut it up and tell it to go away.
This will greatly help because it will give you back the strength and self-confidence that you need to regain your positivity.
Find an Ally
The best way to finally defeat your inner critic is to have a stronger voice to fight it. Acknowledge your inner cheerleader and let it boost your spirits. You can start by noticing things that you love about yourself—because you do have positive traits, and your critic might have just made you forget about them.
It can also help to surround yourself with positive people who genuinely care about you and to cut your ties with those who give power to your inner saboteur. Stick with people who support you and believe in you because they’ll light up that fire in you to keep fighting and start believing in yourself again.
Tell yourself always that you are a winner and that you are a good and kind person. You are beautiful, and you are loved. By telling these things to yourself constantly, you’ll start drowning that inner voice until it’s gone.
Conclusion
It’s not going to be an easy battle. That negative voice will try to find a way to survive, but you shouldn’t let it. There may also be times when you’ll feel like it is winning again. When that happens, you can always benefit from free counseling at a center near you. Many people who suffer from the same thing find that it is more helpful for them to talk about these things to someone who is not their friend or family. It might be the same for you.
Hope Seed Support Center is a counseling center in Houston that you can trust. Visit our counselors or call our hotline, and we’ll help you fight that inner critic and help you maintain a healthy and positive view of yourself.
