How do we manage negative thoughts?
We never ‘rid’ ourselves of our inner critic. Instead, focus on creating new thoughts.
YOU wiLl LEARN
In this module, you’ll learn how to identify and manage your ‘inner critic’ or feelings of ‘impostor syndrome’.
The Confidence Equation
Positive reframing
Naming your ‘inner critic’
Self compassion techniques
KEY CONCEPTS in this module
TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT BEFORE DISCOVERING
How do we counter negative talk, when we’re doing the talking?
By focussing on what you have to gain - rather than lose - and surrounding yourself with a positive support team, you can reframe self-criticism into a compassionate cheerleader. We don’t abolish negative thoughts: instead, we replace them. We never ‘rid’ ourselves of our inner critic. Rather, we build new thought processes to manage the thoughts when they arise.
Here are 5 ways to overcome negative self talk:
To show compassion to others, you must first start with yourself. Someone who is deserving of success, on your own terms.
Writing down your achievements, reviewing them and sharing them with those who want your success can help quieten your inner critic.
Reframing negative thoughts helps us see there is always something to gain (even when it feels like there isn’t!).
Validation from people who want us to succeed helps us focus on positivity.
The inner critic thrives on feedback from those who do not want us to be successful. Be sure to seek feedback and advice from people you admire and respect.
Let’s get started.
Creating ‘pairing’ statements (QUICK exercise)
It doesn’t always feel natural to be ‘positive’ when you’re under stress, does it?
Instead, you can choose different facts to remind yourself of.
A ‘pairing thought’ is a positive fact you can think alongside your negative one, to train your brain to believe more than one thing can be true.
Name Your Inner Critic (quick exercise)
Find it tricky separating negative thoughts from reality?
By ‘naming’ your inner critic, you can create a persona behind your negative thoughts.
This helps us turn down the volume on thoughts that are less helpful and to turn up the volume on ones that are more helpful!
DOWNLOAD ACCOMPANYING MATERIAL
Module - managing your inner critic
DOWNLOAD accompanying MATERIAL
WATCH A FUN TAKE ON IMPOSTOR SYNDROME
AFTER WATCHING
It’s time to think about your game plan and put your learning into practice.
Here are thought starters to get you going:
How could I start to ‘turn down’ the volume of my negative inner voice to make room for my positive voice?
Can I capture my recent 1 - 3 achievements at the end of every week to start building the evidence in my confidence equation?
What could asking for 1 piece of feedback look like from someone I admire?