Right Track Coaching Newsletter
Transform * Lead * Love
March 2008

In this issue:

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Inner Critics Running Your Life

“The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind.”
- Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

The inner critics are with all of us. They are judgmental and insidious in keeping one down in the trenches. The inner critics are the self-talk tapes rehearsed and repeated a myriad of times during a lifetime. When unconscious of their whereabouts and the damage they do in running the show, there is a strong tendency to believe the inner critics, keeping one from reaching their potential. They are kept revitalized with fear and the ego. Don’t do this or don’t do that – be careful, you can’t make it – and on and on with negative messages.

When I think of the inner critics I picture a CD that keeps playing the same gloomy tunes over and over again 24/7 until one doesn’t even realize it’s playing anymore, but it is there in the background playing the same songs over and over. Some of those theme songs might sound like:

• You can’t leave this job – what will you do?
• You’re not good enough to go out on your own.
• You don’t have the time to exercise. There are too many things to get done.
• You can’t afford to make a change even though you are in pain.
• You have to stay in an unpleasant relationship – nobody else wants you.
• Where will you go?
• What will you do?
• How will you get there?
• You are too young – too old.
• What do you think you are doing leaving your job/the relationship?
• You will get hurt and you will be sorry.
• Don’t get involved – it is none of your business.
• You’re too fat – too thin – get in shape before you start anything new.
• You’re not good looking so why bother dating.
• You’re dumb so don’t even try it.
• You need more education to get that job.
• It will take too long.
• You will end up in the poor house.
• (add your inner critics theme song) ______________
• ____________________________________________

Let me not bash the inner critic too harshly! After all, the inner critic is there to protect you from getting hurt, no matter how much you are in pain or dissatisfaction with your situation. What if the inner critic was sending you a wake-up call?

The inner critic does have its good points in playing these tunes, because if you pay close attention, you may get it that the tapes were helpful as you were growing up, but it is time for new tunes. Children are taught from their environment and teachings. Inner critics start to make recordings of how to make it in the world. They were tunes to be obeyed and honored. This isn’t to make anyone wrong or be judgmental, it’s just what happened. Children are sensitive. Negative remarks stick like super glue through adulthood. The mysterious feature is that kind and uplifting tunes get shoved way deep inside, while the inner critics’ tunes play loud and clear, keeping most people from being all they can and want to be.

To be sure, there are challenges when it is so tempting to listen to inner critic’s song to stay put and don’t rock the boat.

“I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.”
- Martha Washington

Questions hold the answers to Letting the Inner Critics Out of the Bag:

1. Are your inner critics really keeping you from harm’s way or are they preventing you from being adventuresome and discovering more possibilities your inner spirit wants to experience?

2. What are your inner critics’ theme songs? How are these themes serving you?

3. What are you afraid of that if you changed your theme from “can’t do ” to “can do,” would bring you more success and happiness?

4. If you are one who has acquired an awareness of your inner critic, than at what point do you notice resistance to playing a bigger game?

5. When will you stop letting those limiting inner critics run your life and take action to your next life chapter?

TIPS: Develop New Inner Theme Songs

1. Take time to listen to your thoughts. Example: When you are taking on something new and out of your comfort zone, what are your inner critics saying; or do you notice any avoidance by procrastinating; or do you come up with excuses about not enough time/money.

2. Inner Critics are part of DNA living. They do have a positive aspect in wakening one up out of the illusion there is no other way. The truth is “there is another way” – find it.

3. Get familiar with the law of attraction and what you are attracting with your thoughts.

4. Start to build your dream of living a more fulfilled life with new thought patterns. This is the beginning to the next steps of visualizing, planning and taking action.

5. Journal 30 days for at least a half-hour without picking up your pen (or continuous computer typing) to by-pass censoring your thoughts. Don’t judge or edit your notes. Notice where you judge yourself worse than even a foe might do.

6. Don’t be a lone-ranger. We are all connected and there is magic in synergy.

7. Compose a new CD of theme songs acknowledging your successes and victories.

8. Register for “Are Inner Critics Running Your Life?” complimentary teleclass – see below for more info.

9. Check out our recommended book – Taming Your Gremlin by Rick Carson

“The way you think about a fact may defeat you before you ever do anything about it.”
– Norman Vincent Peale

Check out our monthly f'ree teleclasses here!

Check out our Get On The Right Track Program
now available in teleclass format!

Coaching to Play a Bigger Life Leadership Game

Email TM at for a complimentary coaching consultation to ask questions regarding your future self. The complimentary coaching consultation is an opportunity to have a conversation to review your future self possibilities, as well as to see if the chemistry is there to create a coaching relationship.

Recommended Book:


"Taming Your Gremlin" by Rick Carson – A surprisingly simple method for getting out of your own way – www.tamingyourgremlin.com

A This is Rick Carson’s updated edition of his 1983 classic wherein he introduces his powerful method to tame your inner critics, or as he calls them, “Gremlins.” His work is used in the training of psychotherapists, personal and executive coaches, substance abuse specialists, corrections personnel, teachers, corporate executives and clergy. Gremlins show up no matter who you are.

There are real-life vignettes you can all identify with, along with interactive activities to tame your gremlins. One of the exercises is to personify your gremlins with a drawing. This actually brings the inner critics up front and center to where they can be tamed!

Check out our other recommended books!

Check out our monthly f'ree teleclasses here!

Check out our Get On The Right Track Program
now available in teleclass format!

 

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