Hey Chris,
Do you have an inner critic? If so, how do you manage it?
If not, why not? JK…
I just want to stop letting it get in the way of achieving my goals.
Got any advice?
Signed,
Is it just me?
~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Is it just me,
No…it IS just you…JK
Seriously, I don’t think there is ONE person on the planet who doesn’t hear that little voice inside their head or heart, that questions their thoughts or actions.
So no, truly it’s NOT just you.
I read a book recently titled, Sh#t Your Ego Says and it’s all about that inner critic, voice, troll…who tries to control your life and keep you from having a brilliantly good time.
Yes, I struggle with it as well. The key here, as in anything, is to manage it. Why not try to “stop” it? Because your inner critic IS designed to keep you safe and secure. It doesn’t know that the thing it protects you from is actually the thing you most need to succeed.
I’ll give you a quick example from a client I worked with.
This client struggled with getting out to talk with people about a healthcare product he sold. Mind you, he loved a good conversation, but when it came to have the “sales” conversation, he’d go blank and silent.
Of course, being relatively new to sales, he was afraid of rejection and his inner critic confirmed that he should be. Heck, he was new to the game so he couldn’t possibly be successful at it, right?
Instead of guiding him to “not listen” to it, I said, let’s manage it. How? Change the intention of the conversation to one of service, not sales.
If, while talking with a prospect, you KNEW they were not a fit for the product, tell them that and tell them why. They will appreciate your candor and for looking out for them. In return, ask if there was anyone they thought would be a fit. Sales based on referrals are often easier to close than when just hitting someone up cold.
When he changed the “intention” of the conversations, his sales skyrocketed! He was closing more cold and referrals because he didn’t feel like he had to convince them his product was better, just that it was a fit for them if they were interested.
Remember, your inner critic is not ALWAYS a bad thing.
Its sole purpose is to keep you safe. However, YOU manage what safety means to you, not your inner critic. When you’re unsure how to manage it, simply say, “thank you inner critic for keeping me safe.”
Then look at the challenge, issue or question before you and ask yourself what’s the real intent here. Is it to improve my life, make me a happier peaceful person, move my career or business forward, etc.
Make a decision about your next steps from that position vs. listening to the dialogue between your head and your heart.
I hope that helps!
~ Fear nothing. Love everything.
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