This post is part of a series for paid subscribers of Signal Strength, A five day writing challenge called Tuning into and Turning the Volume Down on Your Inner Critic. You can access the full series here:
Making Friends With Your Inner Critic: A Five-Day Writing Challenge
Paid subscribers can access the whole series right here:
We have given our inner critic a lot of leeway, we let it have its say.
It’s only fair you get to talk back.
Talking Back Is Not Arguing
I’m not talking about fighting your inner critic. I’m talking about a reality check. Remember, your inner critic is a part of you that thinks it’s protecting you! If it’s telling you to get small, it’s only trying to make you a smaller target. If it’s telling you you should quit, it’s trying to extricate you from a situation it thinks might be threatening.
Talking back is taking things back into your own hands. Your inner critic is loyal, overworked, and stuck doing a job you no longer need it to do. It’s kind of freaked out so you may have to speak kindly but firmly to it to convince it you’re the boss.
I did not fire Big Red or Kuato. I thanked them, told her them I had it from here, and gave them a smaller jobs, such as nudging me when they’re worried so I can address their concerns. I also suggested they take a vacation. They were exhausted.
They still show up, but they’re much more willing to listen to me when I ask them to step back.
The Pact still holds: timer set for 15 to 30 minutes, no editing, no cleanup pass.