A visualization exercise to quiet your inner critic by reconnecting with your younger self. Imagine observing yourself as a kid, write down the qualities you admired in that version of you, then keep the list handy for moments of self-doubt.
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We all have one, that inner voice that tells us that we are not good enough. I know that this limited my opportunities many times in my career, and it is a common issue that I hear from my clients, friends, and family. Our inner critic stems from expectations put on us by our parents, school systems, bosses, and close family members who we want to impress. And when we don't live up to those expectations, we often feel like we failed. Sound familiar? It was certainly my script for most of my life. If this resonates with you, consider a visualization activity that can help. You might remember that I wrote about the power of visualization in one of my first blogs. If visualization works for for you, it can be used to overcome your inner critic simply by imagining your younger self as follows. Step 1: Close your eyes, take a deep breath in, and go to a place you like to relax. Maybe it's the beach, a lake, a park, your backyard, wherever it is that you would consider your happy place. Step 2: Now imagine your current self looking at your younger self, young enough to that you still are impressionable. Maybe that's age 5, 7, 10, whatever age you remember being most happy. Step 3: Now, as your current self, open your eyes and write down the characteristics of your younger self that you most admire. What is it about your younger self that made you confident and happy? Step 4: Review this list and recognize that this is who you are deep down inside. Step 5: Keep this list handy anytime you doubt yourself, reminding yourself that your inner child within your adult can tap into qualities you might have forgotten you had. The self-discovery you uncover about yourself using this activity can help you gain confidence and reduce your stress in the process.
