…often driven by a self-destructive thought process known as the “critical inner voice.” In some cases, this voice operates subtly. It may even sound friendly, as it coaxes you out of taking on challenges and going after goals. At these times, you may begin to have thoughts that seem friendly and alluring such as: “You don’t really want to be a doctor, so why stay in med school?” “You don’t really like him/her that much anyway, so don’t bother ask…
Learn More
…stone have both written extensively about the role of a person’s “critical inner voice” in coloring the way they see the world. Like a mean coach living inside our heads, this inner critic is designed to critique, undermine, and sabotage us. Just as positive, nurturing experiences help us form a healthy sense of self that’s “on our side” so to speak, our “critical inner voice” often forms out of negative early life experiences that gave us a funda…
Learn More
…ne, Ph.D., Lisa Firestone, Ph.D. Joyce Catlett, M.A. Conquer Your Critical Inner Voice: A Revolutionary Program to Counter Negative Thoughts and Live Free From Imagined Limitations offers means for dealing effectively with negative thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs that are barriers to one’s personal development, sabotage relationships, and interfere with career success. This book provides insights gleaned from 25 years of investigations into the d…
Learn More
…a common internal enemy we all possess, which we refer to as our “critical inner voice.” We can see from my friend’s example that what may seem like a no-big-deal, flippant remark about someone else can actually hold a lot more meaning about how we view ourselves. One reason we find competitive feelings so uncomfortable is that they awaken our “critical inner voice.” That is, they stir up old feelings in us that we are not good enough or that we a…
Learn More
…rselves for being “foolish, unlovable, ruined or unwanted.” These critical inner voices and the feelings of humiliation that they foster can be more painful to us than the threat itself. They can also be more real. This negative self-coaching accompanies us into our personal relationships and instills in us a level of doubt and criticism that keeps us from perceiving ourselves as truly lovable. It reminds us to be suspicious with thoughts like, “S…
Learn More
…n validates the negative point of view of what my father calls a “critical inner voice.” This “voice” represents an internal enemy shaped out of negative events that took place early in life. While the commentary of this critical inner voice might not be pleasant, it is familiar, and unless we challenge it, we carry it stubbornly with us into adulthood. This explains why, in a break-up, instead of just feeling the sadness of losing someone importa…
Learn More
…conjunction with The Glendon Association’s webinar, Conquer Your Critical Inner Voice, by Dr. Lisa Firestone, I hope to add some complimentary thoughts on the subject of self-attacking inner voices that diminish well-being, steal joy and shame natural enthusiasm. As children, most of us learned some version of the Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated. Unfortunately, the lesson that we really learned was to treat ourselves, as…
Learn More
…foreign words flying out of our mouths in moments of tension. The Critical Inner Voice, a concept generated by my father, psychologist Robert Firestone, is formed early in life during stressful and traumatic events. Just as positive childhood experiences lead to confidence, ability and optimism, negative experiences lead us to low self-esteem, self-destructive behaviors and pessimism. The Critical Inner Voice thus describes a dynamic operating wit…
Learn More
…nal when it comes to money, both in the long and short term. The “critical inner voice” is a negative thought process we adopt from early life experiences. It represents destructive and critical attitudes we’re exposed to that we’ve then take on as our own point of view. For example, a child who grows up with a stingy parent, who induces guilt over anything the child asks for, may grow up feeling stingy toward him or herself. Children who are spoi…
Learn More
…hat my father, psychologist Dr. Robert Firestone refers to as the critical inner voice. Internalized early in life, this inner voice functions like an over-disciplinary parent holding us back and keeping us in our place. On October 11, I am presenting a CE Webinar to professionals on an Innovative Approach to Treating Depression. The presentation will illustrate how this destructive thought process fuels depression and educate mental health profes…
Learn More