Critical Inner Voice

How to Overcome the Fear of Failure

The fear of failure can become a very powerful force in each choice we make and each endeavor we undertake. While sometimes this fear can motivate us to succeed, other times it can defeat us, preventing us from pursuing our goals. Often it is at those times when we are faced with the greatest opportunities… Read more »

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I Hate Myself

For most of us, the expression “you are your own worst enemy” holds a lot of truth. It’s a painful reality that much of what limits us in our lives is our own feelings of unworthiness and self-hatred. “I hate myself” is a fairly common thought. But where do these feelings come from? How do… Read more »

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How the Critical Inner Voice Affects Relationships

Watch an exclusive PsychAlive cartoon, illustrating the concept of the “critical inner voice” and how it can negatively impact your romantic relationships. Learn more about the critical inner voice

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Self-Sabotaging: Why We Get in Our Own Way

The expression “you are your own worst enemy” rings true for most of us. How many times have we acted against our self-interest, then asked ourselves why did we self-destruct? Why did we say that to a loved one? Why did we procrastinate on that project? Why have we stopped doing that one thing that… Read more »

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The Importance of Choosing Your Thoughts

Time spent alone in thought can be positive – a rich environment for personal growth and creativity. Yet, getting “in our heads” can also be dangerous when we are negatively turned against ourselves. There is an important difference between introspection and rumination. Introspection can be a process of healthy self-reflection examination, and exploration, all of… Read more »

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4 Steps to Conquer Your Inner Critic

Most of us are familiar with those nagging thoughts that tell us we are not good enough, that cast doubt on our goals and undermine our accomplishments. These thoughts might be there to greet us when we first glimpse at ourselves in the mirror in the morning. “You’re so unattractive. You’re fat. What a slob…. Read more »

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Five Questions for a Better New Year

New Year’s tends to be a time of looking forward. Yet, in our effort to set goals for the future, it’s meaningful to reflect on the past year and make sense of what our experiences have meant to us. What can they teach us? How can the lessons of 2017 help us to achieve a more fulfilling… Read more »

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Steps to Overcoming Your Critical Inner Voice

Most of us are all too familiar with those nagging thoughts that seem to surface every time we decide to push ourselves and try something new. Although the worry and self-doubt we experience when we take on a challenge, interview for a job, apply to a school or ask someone out can be met with… Read more »

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Student Stress, Pressure and Self-Attacks: Interview with Dr. Daniel Zamir

Dr. Daniel Zamir debunks the thought process of “My grades define where I stand as a human being.” He discusses ways to reduce stress amongst students, as well as ways that students can challenge their Critical Inner Voice.   Debunking the Thought Process, “My grades define where I stand as a human being.” The following… Read more »

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Stop Self-Sabotage by Conquering Your Inner Critic

I was once doing a radio show about our (my and my father Dr. Robert Firestone’s) work on the “critical inner voice.” The host started the show by talking about all the media attention on terrorism and the fear we, as a nation, were feeling following the attacks of 9/11. She ended her introduction by… Read more »

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