For too long, fear and blame stopped me from writing. Decades ticked by without my completing a book—something I’d wanted to do my whole life. Fear of not being good enough immobilized me. I blamed my father for expecting perfection. I blamed my critical junior high English teachers who stole the fun I had as a child when I felt free to be seen and heard. I blamed writer’s block and my inner critic. I blamed myself for being lazy and undisciplined. And the more blame I spread around, the less I wrote, until even my daily journal entries became little more than a sporadic two or three lines a few times a year.
Sharing this message received this morning: Beautiful! (couldn’t find a place on your written email to add this to comments – but still wanted to tell you!) Transforming our inner critic is such a creative, powerful and enduring way to work with her. Lovely work my dear! Love to you, Samantha
Ginni, once again I think you have been a voyeur in my head! On first read of your essay, I realize that I have lots of work to do. The inner critic voice in my mind is usually my mother. I so disrespected her and her never ending cruel judgements about everything but most often me, my life choices, the way I dressed, raised my son, etc.. by the time she passed, I was simply relieved not having to deal with her. Wrong, she lives rent-free in my self dialogue, though I usually try to ignore or jettison her running commentary. I plan to reread your insightful offering and have a meditative walk in nature to contemplate how your perspective can apply in my life.
Ginni, You are an inspiration to all who are stopped or stalled by fear. Thank you for sharing your story with us. You give us hope!
I do that in pickle ball all of the time. I need to stop and look at the good.
This is really well said...trusting inner critic.
Great writing. Thank you for sharing.
Leslie
Sharing this message received this morning: Beautiful! (couldn’t find a place on your written email to add this to comments – but still wanted to tell you!) Transforming our inner critic is such a creative, powerful and enduring way to work with her. Lovely work my dear! Love to you, Samantha
I love reading your posts and the insights they impart. Thank you for being so open, introspective and wise.
Ginni, once again I think you have been a voyeur in my head! On first read of your essay, I realize that I have lots of work to do. The inner critic voice in my mind is usually my mother. I so disrespected her and her never ending cruel judgements about everything but most often me, my life choices, the way I dressed, raised my son, etc.. by the time she passed, I was simply relieved not having to deal with her. Wrong, she lives rent-free in my self dialogue, though I usually try to ignore or jettison her running commentary. I plan to reread your insightful offering and have a meditative walk in nature to contemplate how your perspective can apply in my life.
Thanks once again.