You have someone living inside your head and it is important to remember it is NOT you. Your inner roommate is a good way to think of the voice inside our heads that we all have, the constant ongoing chatterbox.
That inner voice isn’t you; YOU are the entity hearing it and you do not have to believe everything it says. It is vital to differentiate between who we are, who we choose to be and become, and what is behind, what is motivating that monkey non-stop jabbering away. All too often, it represents our darker side, the scar tissue of past, our deepest fears. It generally means well, it really does, but most of its advice is sophomoric and its coping mechanism rudimentary and downright dysfunctional.
Over time, we can train our inner voice to become an astute coach, an indispensable cheerleader, a wise adviser. But in its adolescent state, it is a very unreliable guide yet all too many fail to make the crucial distinction between their true essence and this inner babbling brook. A very helpful technique is to imagine your inner voice is a distinct person, a roommate, another separate individual, whom you would never obey or believe without questioning, verifying, or corroborating.
PS: By your inner voice, I’m speaking of the inner critic; entirely different from quiet moments of self -reflection when you still your mind and listen to what rises up from your truest self, though be wary: sometimes their voices intermingle and your inner critic rudely tries to speak over your truest self.
Closing Quotes:
“Your mind, emotions, and body are instruments and the way you align and tune them determines how well you play life.” – Harbhajan Singh Yogi, 1929-2004
“Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” – Louise Hay, ‘You Can Heal Your Life’, 1926-2017
“The critical voices in our own heads are far more vicious than what we might hear from the outside. Our “inside critics” have intimate knowledge of us and can zero in on our weakest spots. Inside critics are really just trying to protect you. You can learn to dialogue with them, give them new jobs, turn them into allies.” – Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy, Creative Companion: How to Free Your Creative Spirit
As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier