We all have one. An inner critic. That voice in our heads tries to keep us safe by avoiding taking risks. Avoiding new, challenging things. Mine tells me all the time that I just started my home organizing business, even though I have been doing it on the side professionally for years. I know what I am doing. Yet, now, and then, a voice says, “what makes you an expert at home organizing? Can you really do this?”
Our Inner Critic is not our Enemy
The answer is YES! We all have extraordinary talents that need to be shared with the world. Just because we are “JUST STARTING” doesn’t mean we don’t have the talent, or that we don’t know what we are doing. It means we need to learn to listen to our critics with logic. Our inner critic is necessary. It protects us.
Yet sometimes, we need to talk to it and speak our passion and truth. To push forward with our vision. To be brave and jump in!
Here is a fantastic quote from Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy about freeing our creative spirit:
“Learn to dialogue with them.
Give them new jobs.
Turn them into allies.
You can also dismantle/exterminate them.”
― Creative Companion: How to Free Your Creative Spirit
Whether you are decluttering your entire home or room by room in your weekly routine, having the right mindset to keep up the momentum means we need to manage our inner critic. The word “decluttering” can sound intimidating and daunting. Our inner critics start talking to us and maybe say: “This is impossible. Why bother? It will only get messy and cluttered again in no time”. And then we listen and possibly give up on this criticism. Having the right mindset can make us home organization champions!
How to use our inner critic as our friend
I did a series of interviews on this very topic, the Inner Critic! Here is the first one
with Claire Southern, Life Coach, from Southern Life Coaching.
Five quick ways to tame our critic, from one of my favorite sites, Tiny Buddha.
Once you hear it, here are 5 immediate and easy ways to respond to your inner critic. It’s so simple that it may seem unrealistic, but it works. Memorize it and keep it close like a mantra.
When your inner critic acts out, say:
1. So what?
So, what if you think that? That doesn’t mean it’s true.
2. Who cares?
You think your judgments mean something to me? They don’t!
3. Big deal!
Oh seriously, big deal! Really, big f’n deal!
4. Why not?
Why shouldn’t I do this? You’re telling me I can’t? I won’t? Am I not worthy of it? Why not? I’m going to continue doing this anyway because I can! No matter what you say, I’m going to just keep diving in.
5. What if it doesn’t matter if I am __________________ or not?
In our next chat, I will talk about my philosophy in starting a new challenge, whether it be a new job, a new career, a new blog, a new business! It’s called “Just Start”. We will share an interview with award-winning blogger Loretta Sayers Gavin of thecountdownto60.
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