Note to my inner critic…
SHUT THE EFF UP!!!
You are making me crazy! I know you are only trying to keep me safe from harm, and I thank you for that. You are right when you say I shouldn’t drive 100 miles per hour just because I am running late…that is good advice for sure, and I have heeded such advice! However, you have just GONE TOO FAR!! You are not helping me or keeping me safe when you tell me I am not good enough to start my own well-being business. You lie to me, telling me I’m too old, or don’t know as much as others, or because I’m not a saint! I know I’m not a saint. Sure, I like to veg in front of the TV more often than I should, but that doesn’t mean I am not worthy of your respect! And it certainly doesn’t mean I can’t help others with their challenges as I work on my own. You, Mr. Inner Critic, and I both know that I have studied well-being and natural health modalities since the early 90’s! You know I have 3 certifications from Chopra (Coaching, Meditation and Ayurveda), plus I am a Reiki Master and certified Yoga instructor. Natural healing and these “woo-woo” practices have been my passion since I bought the cassette series Magical Mind, Magical Body by Deepak Chopra, MD. (and yes I said cassette, so just stop laughing, okay? )
And who are you to laugh at me being old enough to have bought books on cassette? Isn’t older also wiser? Or have you forgotten that in your old age? You’re just as old as I am and you think you’re so smart…well, let me tell you, Mr. Inner Critic…you’re not as smart as you think you are! You’re just a bully! And from here on out I am going to be more discerning about when I listen to you. Yes, you are right to tell me to not try to pick up and carry a very heavy cooler up the steps into the house on my own, like I did last week. I did it anyway and almost injured myself and my car…which was an innocent bystander. So, thank you! I’ll give you credit where credit is due, but…
SHUT THE EFF UP…
when it comes to things like my business, and networking and calling people to tell them about my business. Do you realize you have made me a slug because I am afraid to put myself out there? So I do nothing…or not as much as I know I would be doing if it weren’t for the fear you instill in me! Yes, I know, I was very shy growing up and could barely hold a conversation with someone. And God forbid, if I had to talk to a complete stranger…nope…that wasn’t going to happen! But, that was then. Things are different now. I have learned in my corporate career how to talk to people, and yes, to be interesting. You keep telling me I’m boring people, or they will laugh at me, when I talk and you are just making me afraid. You’re even making me cry now. Why are you such a bully? Let me tell you, Mr. Inner Critic Bully!
YOU’RE BULLYING DAYS ARE OVER!!!
Yes, I am no longer afraid of you. As a matter of fact I’m now going to call you The Jester-man, because you are so ridiculous and the things you say are just plain funny, if they are worth my time at all. So, say what you like, but I know:
I AM worthy!
I AM enough!
I AM good at what I do!
I have a LOT to offer this world!
I AM who I am supposed to be right now at this moment…learning...growing…being!
So, Jester-man, just watch what I can do without your negativity! And, yes, I am ignoring you, as you whisper in my ear, “Lori…do you really want to say that to the public? What if you do absolutely nothing different and fail again?” Well, Mr. Jester-man, even if I miss some personal goals, I know I have not failed. I just learned a little bit more.
WOW! I feel so much lighter after getting Mr. Jester-man off my back!