Well, Let's Just See What Happens
Talking to your inner critic and continuing to try.
I don’t know if everyone assigns a unique name (entity-hood? personhood?) to the thoughts and voices inside them. But sometimes it’s helpful when sorting out the determined critical voices from the ones of intuition or warning. (Listen they might all be one voice if you excavate deeply enough to understand the motivation, but for expediency sake we go with separating them.) The brilliant Meg Kissack calls that critical voice her Inner Dream Shitter and I love that.
The thing about these thoughts is you can’t avoid them. They have a binding and exclusive deal for your attention. And yet, we get to choose what we do with them. You don’t necessarily have to heed their calls to stop! Or consider their question of who do you think you are? Or believe them when they say you can’t.
For the last few weeks I have decided to do a small watercolour painting each day. I can do more, but I must do at least one. I used to paint and draw a long time ago and I wanted to switch my energy into something generative in whatever way I could in the midst of our rage inducing world. But the thing is I’ve never really used watercolours that much. It definitely wasn’t what I painted with as a kid or in university. So in the unfamiliarity I doubt myself in the making.
And I noticed that each and every day I hit a spot in the creation of the work that makes me want to quit. I clearly hear my inner voice tell me I’ve messed it up, made a mess, and should just stop. The painting will never turn out as I hope. It will never be something anyone would want to buy or own. What a waste.
For the last 18 days in a row I hear this every day. I started taking a picture at that stage—kind of acknowledging that voice and letting it know that I have proof available if it turns out to be correct. Then I finish the painting with an attitude of “well, let’s just see.”
Every one of the paintings has turned out as something lovely that I am proud to have created. And by going so gently through this phase repetitively I’ve uncovered a new way to give myself permission to take the action I need. Next time your inner critic voice is loudly predicting what you aren’t capable of finishing feel free to try this line on it.
Well, let’s just see what happens.
If you want a little 20 minute pep talk on How to Give Yourself Permission download my mini-audio course today here.
