Everyone has one. Mine can get me into trouble if I don’t notice it and pay careful attention. Like the time it convinced me to exercise at a high intensity and longer duration, when I clearly needed a day of rest. Or the time it admonished me for taking a few days off.
The dialogue went like this:
Inner Critic: “Do something! Get out and ride! You’re going to lose your aerobic capacity if you keep this up!”
Me: “Ok – I hear you. Why are you so concerned? What are you afraid of?”
Inner Critic: “You’ve got to keep moving, otherwise your osteoarthritis will get the better of you. Besides, you have a job to do! How are you going to be a trainer, if you’re not in great shape? You can’t afford a decline in your fitness level!”
Me: “My goodness, you sure do have lots of concerns! Thanks for sharing them. Rest assured, I can take care of me if you’ll just trust me and give me some space!”
Inner Critic: “Ok – you’re off the hook for now! Until next time.”
That was a sample of my inner critic. Each day I witness inner critics wreaking havoc with others. For example, a client’s inner critic kept harassing her about her triceps. In this case, it was so focused on her triceps that it interfered with her ability to enjoy the exercise and appreciate her efforts. Another time, it didn’t stop with triceps, but went for the entire body! In this case, the critic was relentless.
The critic is just one part of me. There are so many others – such as the striver. When the striver and critic team up there’s a real celebration or tension.
