“What are the most powerful words in the universe? The ones you use to talk to yourself.” - Karen Salmansohn
The “inner-critic” as many call it, is part of our internal world. Some say “I am my own worst enemy” or “I am my harshest critic” and, believe me, I hear you. That internal dialogue can be tough, but it’s also useful. We can thank it for problem solving, self-monitoring, and motivating us. Yet, an unhelpful inner voice can sometimes be the core of our unhappiness. Working with this critic is crucial to the success and longevity of therapeutic work.
How I Work with Internal Dialogue
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Parts Work.
There is often more than one internal voice we listen to. Together we can map all the parts of the self, allowing each to be heard and integrated. Let these parts work for you rather than against you.
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Reframing.
The tone of the way we speak to ourselves, along with what we say, has a huge impact on our well-being and happiness. Sometimes it’s about finding different ways of saying it - changing critic to champion.
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Rewriting the Story.
With repetition we can start to believe something. Reworking the inner voice is just as much about unlearning as it is learning. Let’s shift those unhelpful narratives that no longer serve you.
