Today’s Mandala Message: Go from Judgement to Support
This week I’m working through Principle #32 from Jack Canfield’s “The Success Principles” entitled “Transform Your Inner Critic into an Inner Coach”. I set my intention today to ponder the idea of my inner voice going from judgmental to supportive. Canfield suggests: “…there are a lot of things that your inner coach observes about how to improve your performance in future situations. The problem—up until now!—is that it has been presenting the information as a judgement. Once you switch the conversation to a non emotional discussion of improvement opportunities, the experience changes from a negative to a positive one.”
He suggests carrying on a conversation with the Inner Critic, to basically question its critical message so as to get down to the supportive (coach-like) message. If you’re like me, most of my authority figures growing up were more critical and judgmental in their messaging. Looking back I realize that they were wanting to help me improve and that that was the only way they knew how to deliver their message. Once I was on my own, the Inner Critic just continued their role in my head. Now there needs to be a changing of the guard, so to speak. It’s time I hand over the reins to my Inner Coach. It may even be helpful to name both of them to better differentiate between the two.
As part of this inner conversation, Canfield suggests that we write down any beneficial insights or ideas that come out of it “because research on memory tells us that a new idea lasts for only about 40 seconds in short-term memory and then it is gone.”
A good mindfulness practice would be to ponder the support behind the criticism.
So how about you? Do you ever question your self-criticism? Do you accept what it says as fact? Are you ready to transition to more supportive messaging?
“Make a conscious effort
— Find Your Inner Coach article
to notice the voice
of your inner critic
when you hear it.
Are there situations
that tend to trigger it?
Think about the facts
that contradict
that voice.”
Blessings,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
All Things Mandalas
An Invitation
I invite you to color along with me this year as part of what I’m calling “The Year of Self-Exploration and Expansion” with all of my “Mandalas of the ___” (day, week, month, year). If you’re interested in more of a self-exploration approach to coloring, check out my “Coloring Mandalas as Meditation”. You can download this mandala at MandalaoftheWeek.com.
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