7 Underrated Quotes That Helped Me Stop Letting My Inner Critic Run My Life
We all have an inner critic. These quotes helped me stop mine from controlling my life.
What does your inner critic say to you? Mine tells me that I shouldn’t try anything new because I will probably fail and will only embarrass myself. She insists that I can’t possibly make enough money writing to survive, so I should focus on getting a “real job” instead. She also says all kinds of other cruel and demeaning things that aren’t worth repeating.
How does your inner critic affect your life? For too long, I let mine keep me from doing things I really wanted to do. On the rare occasions when I did find the courage to attempt something I had never done before, she convinced me to give up too soon because I wasn’t as good at it as others with more experience. The mistakes necessary to learn any new skill were unacceptable to her.
These inspiring quotes remind me not to allow my inner critic to run my life. She still has plenty to say, but I now choose to listen without agreeing with her and make decisions based on factors other than her opinion.
You too can stop being ruled by your inner critic and learn to listen to your inner wisdom instead. I hope you find these quotes as helpful as I have.
“You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.” — Maya Angelou
“You have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” — Louise Hay
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” — Buddha
“I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence but it comes from within. It is there all the time.” — Anna Freud
“We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.” — Marie Curie
“Be careful how you’re talking to yourself because you’re listening.” — Lisa Hayes
“The best way to gain self-confidence is to do what you are afraid to do.” — Swati Sharma
Do any of these quotes resonate with you? Do they help you recognize your own worth and see how your inner critic’s negative comments have kept you from taking the risks necessary to pursue your dreams? You may want to choose one or more of these quotes to post on your wall or mirror to remind you not to let your inner critic have the last word.
Remember that you are precious and worthy of love, and have unique talents that can be used to benefit the world in some way. Don’t let your inner critic stop you from acknowledging those truths and creating the life you want!
(Note: I originally published this article on Medium in February, before I started this newsletter.)
Which quote is your favorite, and why? Is there another quote that helps you stop your inner critic from running your life? What other strategies do you use to tame that critic and take the risks necessary to change your life?
Please share your thoughts in the comments!
I like Maya Angelou 's ," You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody."
While the internet can be a wonderful resource, I find it can provide fuel to my competitive side. The end result is less time, originality and focus on nurturing my spark.
One of my favorites is one of the great commandments, Love your neighbor AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF. Too often we ignore the second half of that commandment and forget that in order to love our neighbors we must first love ourselves. Otherwise we are incapable of loving anyone else. Self-love is a pre-requisite for all other healthy love.