314 — Beating Yourself Up? The 10-Second Play That Outsmarts Your Inner Critic

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Have you ever rewritten an email five times before hitting send because you keep telling yourself it’s not quite right? Or beaten yourself up over something you said and convinced yourself you’ve ruined everything? That’s your inner critic .
 
We all have one—and while that little voice is meant to protect you, it can easily get in the way of thinking, feeling, and doing your best.
 
Fortunately, you don’t have to silence it. There’s a simpler play that takes the power out of that voice almost instantly.
 
Some of the things I talk about are:
 

• The story of how my inner critic almost talked me out of doing something important this past week
• Why your inner critic isn’t actually trying to ruin your life (and what’s really going on)
• The fascinating research on writers with imposter syndrome who became more productive simply by naming the voice in their head
• The psychological concept of “self-distancing” and why it helps you make better decisions, regulate emotions, and take action even when you’re scared
• A 3-step play for naming your inner critic
• The critical pitfall to avoid when naming your inner critic
• Why the goal isn’t to eliminate that voice—it’s to stop letting it run your life

Key Takeaways:

• Naming your inner critic can help create emotional distance and prevent it from controlling your decisions.
• Your inner critic likely appears before you are about to do something significant or after you’ve done something.
• Rather than trying to silence it, reduce its impact.
• Inner critics are protective by nature but struggle to recognize the difference between real danger and mild discomfort.
• Self-distancing boosts emotional regulation and improves decision-making.