From Criticism To Compassion: Unblending The Inner Critic

Greetings and welcome.

If you're here,

Something inside you may feel stirred up.

Maybe a voice is judging how you handled something.

Maybe it's replaying a moment telling you what you should have done differently.

Maybe it's just making you feel not good enough.

Let's take a breath together.

Slowly in and gently out.

You're not alone in this.

And right now,

You don't have to push that voice away.

You don't have to agree with it either.

Just notice it.

Notice how it shows up.

Is it fast?

Is it loud?

Does it bring tension into your shoulders,

Your jaw,

Your stomach?

Take another breath.

And just observe.

There's a part of you that's caught in that voice.

And there's also a quieter,

Steadier part of you underneath.

That's the part we're connecting with right now.

See if you can say to yourself,

This is something I'm experiencing.

It's not all of me.

Let that be your anchor.

Say it again.

This is something I'm experiencing.

It's not all of me.

Now gently create some space between you and that critical voice.

You're not ignoring it.

You're just not fussing with it.

You're stepping back,

Even just a little.

And if that voice is still close,

That's okay.

You're doing enough,

Just by noticing it without letting it take over.

Let your breath help you soften.

Inhale through your nose.

Exhale through your mouth.

And let that inner pressure loosen,

Even slightly.

There's no need to fix anything right now.

You're simply making space.

Maybe you place a hand over your heart or your belly.

Something gentle to say,

I'm here.

I'm listening.

And I don't have to be hard on myself right now.

Let your breath settle you into this moment.

Let your body know it's okay to soften.

Let your nervous system know it's safe to let go of the grip.

You don't have to believe every thought that passes through.

And you don't have to carry every opinion that rises inside you.

Right now,

You're choosing to pause,

To breathe,

To return to something quieter,

Deeper,

Steadier inside of you.

Take one more breath in,

And one more breath out.

Thank you for showing up for yourself.

You are not the noise in your mind.

You are the awareness behind it.

And that awareness is always worth coming home to.

Be gentle with yourself.

You're doing the best you can.

And that is more than enough.

Thank you for practicing with me today.