How Self-Compassion Can Help You Heal Your Inner Critic

Posted on June 8, 2017

There is an inner critic in everyone of us - that's the little voice inside of us that talks to us continuously. This inner dialogue can impact our feelings, thoughts, and actions; it reflect what we believe about ourselves.

“I’m too fat."
"I’m too short."
"I’m not intelligent enough."

Do these statements sound familiar? These are examples of self-critical statements that you may be telling yourself on a daily basis. Such self-critical statements can be detrimental to your well-being. They put you down, and make you feel small and inadequate. They are likely to contribute to anxiety and depression or cause your self-esteem and confidence to dip greatly.

So what is self-compassion and how can it heal your inner critic?
According to Kristin Neff, Self-compassion is formed of three concepts - Kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness.

- Kindness
Remember that being imperfect, making mistakes and having distress are part of our everyday life. We are only human, so be understanding and kind to yourself when facing difficulties. Show tolerance and kindness to yourself when you have difficulties rather than further criticizing yourself.

- Common humanity
Self-compassion is about seeing your suffering as a universal experience. It includes a notion that suffering and having difficulties is a part of being human and that there are many others who may be having similar difficulties.

- Mindfulness
Several research studies have suggested that being aware of your feelings and physical experience (emotions are experienced in the body) is beneficial for your well-being. Self-compassion includes being aware and acknowledging your emotions, as they are important messages about your state of well-being and how your needs are being met. An important aspect of becoming aware of your feelings is to simply notice them without judgment or trying to alter them.

Self-compassion encourages you to get to know and accept your most uncomfortable parts and to create a more peaceful existence. When you are kind to yourself rather than self-critical, your world becomes a lot more pleasant and enjoyable to be in. Taken together, when you practice self-compassion, it takes power away from the inner-critic. It is a process and may take some time to internalize the message of self-compassion fully, but be patient with yourself.

Category(s):Self-Care / Self Compassion, Self-Confidence, Self-Esteem, Self-Love, Sensitivity to Criticism

Source material from PsychCentral

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