When you see your inner critic doing its usual thing, catch it before it gets a hold of you. You could say something like ‘I see you’ or ‘where does this belief come from’, or find your own way of noting it. Bringing awareness to your inner critic will dissipate its force.
You are your own worst enemy. You have been on countless diets, experimented with different foods and maybe even joined a few fitness classes. You look at various magazines and websites and compare yourself to super models, film stars, etc. We bully ourselves by constantly criticising ourselves, by letting our inner critic dictate our feelings.
The act of “compare and despair” is what we use a lot and this makes us feel down and can really lower our confidence and self-esteem. These thoughts will only lead to further emotional eating. You may say to yourself while reaching for a packet of crisps “what’s the point I have already gone this far?” If that is the case, do you really expect change by shaming and humiliating yourself, by giving yourself hell? Being harsh on yourself will not support you to choose food that will make you feel better inside and out.
So, how do you change and stop the negative thoughts? This takes a lot of determination and commitment but day-by-day you will see these thoughts disappear. Make the decision to stop admonishing yourself. Bring awareness to your thoughts. Catch the negative self-talk before it gets a hold of you. Then choose to be compassionate with yourself.
When you feel you are going to give in to your inner critic than ask yourself how will you feel after you’ve had a packet of crisps or chocolate bar. Try also to hold off on eating these things for 20 minutes. Drink a large glass of water instead. Usually the craving for sugar or salt passes and you’ll feel better.
You could also create a journal and make a note of when you give in to your inner critic and when you manage to stop it. Write down how you feel in both circumstances and refer to these feelings every time you feel that your inner critic is shouting at you. If you do give in to the inner-critic, that’s okay too. Just move on.
Doing some of the above exercises will help you become aware of the benefits of getting rid of your inner critic. Practicing this over time will boost your self-esteem and confidence.
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