Welcome to Day 2 of the Self Belief Challenge here on Insight Timer.
This marks the start of seeing yourself with a little more kindness and a little less doubt.
Each day you'll take a few minutes to remember who you are and what you're capable of.
Let's jump in to today's session.
Welcome to Day 2.
My name is Selena Leal and I am grateful to be in this challenge together.
Yesterday we reminded ourselves,
I am enough,
Just as I am.
Today we'll look at the voice that often tells us otherwise,
The inner critic.
The inner critic is that self-judgmental voice that we all have.
Sometimes it can sound very loud and harsh,
And other times it is more subtle.
We may be so accustomed to living with this voice that we don't even recognize our daily thoughts about ourselves as judgmental or unkind.
Many of us wish we could get rid of this inner critic.
We think of it as bad or wrong.
We might try to cover it up with positive affirmations or distractions.
But what if I told you that this voice is neither bad nor wrong?
What if the inner critic is not here to hurt you?
What if it is actually designed to protect you?
To make you feel small in a clumsy attempt to keep you from experiencing a painful repeat of the past,
Rejection,
Embarrassment,
Failure,
And so on.
Let's take these next few moments together to practice noticing the voice of the inner critic without rejecting it or making ourselves wrong for it.
I invite you to find a comfortable seated position if possible.
Allow the eyes to close,
Or if you prefer,
Have a relaxed gaze looking down.
Inhale slowly and deeply,
Pause and hold the breath just for a moment,
And now exhale slowly with a sigh.
Inhale deeply,
Slowly,
Exhale with a sigh.
One more full deep breath like this.
Feel the body settling as you become aware of the mind.
How is the inner critic showing up today?
Is it replaying something from the past?
Is it looping a specific thought?
Start to become aware of the presence of this inner critic.
And now,
Rather than resisting this voice,
What if you could just notice it?
Ah,
Here is the voice of the inner critic.
It is not who I am.
It is a mechanism inside of me,
Trying to keep me safe,
Although not in a kind way.
For these next few moments,
Practice noticing this voice without judging it.
Can you hear it,
See it,
Not as your own voice,
But a program inside of you?
You might notice the tone of this voice.
If these thoughts are familiar,
You may even notice how it comes from a place of protection.
Let's take a deep breath in,
Exhale with a gentle sigh.
Inhale slowly,
Deeply,
Exhale a sigh.
Slowly move the fingers and toes,
And when you're ready,
Open the eyes if they're closed.
There is no right way to have this experience today.
Whatever you felt,
Whatever you heard,
It is all okay.
Awareness is the first step in the path of transformation,
So we begin here,
Just noticing.
The more we become aware of the inner critic,
The more power we have to free ourselves from its hold on us.
If you feel called to,
I invite you to share in the forum.
Are you becoming more aware of the voice of the inner critic?
Can you see how this negative voice is rooted in protection?
Could you feel its grip loosening,
Even if only ever so slightly today,
As you practiced witnessing it?
Tomorrow,
We'll learn how to respond to the inner critic in a new way,
With self-compassion instead of judgment.
Thank you for sharing your practice with me today,
All my love.
