Have you ever noticed how you talk to yourself? Take a minute to notice your inner voice.
Is it harsh and critical?
Is it always berating you?
Is it usually fearful and anxious?
Does it quickly turn against you when you make a mistake or don’t live up to your expectations of yourself?
Are you frequently critical of others and and as a result, constantly feel disappointed by people?
Are you overly concerned about what others think of you?
You are not alone as we all have that inner voice but for some people, that voice begins to take over and cause great internal suffering. The voice of the inner critic can be so deeply ingrained, you may not even realize that it is contributing to your unhappiness. For others, the torment of that voice is glaringly relentless but it has come to be the accepted way you talk to yourself; you no longer question its authority.
Many of us harbor a deep belief that we should be smart, successful, good, attractive, put together, funny, witty or insert whatever characteristic you have come to believe is necessary to fulfill your sense of self-worth. Many of us are burdened by the belief that we must work hard to achieve some idea of perfection and find it difficult to feel at home in our own skin. Not one single person on this planet is perfect. Even though you may think everyone else has it all put together and lives a perfect, happy life, the truth is we all struggle at some point with a variety of issues. This can lead to anxiety, depression and constant worry about yourself and the direction of your life. There is another way…
The answer lies in rediscovering that worthiness and wholeness are the very ground of your being. This truth has merely been clouded over with messages you have learned from various sources throughout your life. Honestly, one of the best things you can do for yourself is trade your quest for self-improvement for self-acceptance.
Let me help you learn to be more friendly towards yourself. You deserve to feel accepted and worthy, flaws and all. In fact, when you relate to yourself with more kindness and compassion, you open the doors to more possibilities within yourself. You are freed up to grow! However, your motivation will no longer be a mean, slave-driving, fear-driven, never-good-enough inner voice.
I bet that developing loving-kindness toward your own self is not something that have ever been encouraged to do. Fundamental to my approach in working with any client is my belief that how we talk to ourselves greatly influences our level of satisfaction with our lives and our selves. As you begin to relate to yourself and your struggles with compassion and acceptance, you become freed up to heal your pain and ultimately live with more happiness and less internal stress.
Can you imagine how it would feel to be more at home in your body, no matter the circumstances of your life? Can you imagine having access to a sense of safety and unconditional belonging within yourself, rather than looking for or expecting it from others? What would it be like to be your own biggest cheerleader, never abandoning yourself, even when life gets really tough? I am passionate about helping you develop greater self-acceptance and enjoy watching what flourishes when people live from a place of heart-centered self-confidence.
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”- Carl Rogers