11/20/2025
I imagine many of you can relate to the little voice in your head that.....let's face it, it's pretty mean. Telling you all of the things that are wrong with you. How you are stupid, incompetent, or always make mistakes.
Over the past few years I have worked to befriend that voice. Learn what it was trying to protect me from, what it was afraid of, and learning to appreciate its efforts. In the process, I have noticed growth in my ability to be kind to myself. Now - cue up today.
I stopped at Fresh on my way home at 2pm. I hadn't had lunch and was pretty hungry. Walking through I went "oooo! shrimp cocktail. That sounds yummy. A good snack" and I bought it. I get in the car, open in up, eat a few and decide "this is fine car food. I can do this" and proceed to pull out of my parking space knowing full well, it might not be a good idea. As I pull into traffic, you guessed it! I flipped the whole thing over into my lap, cocktail sauce included. And I laughed. No hesitation, I just laughed out loud. Decided "no" I didn't want to pull over; I'd just drive home and clean up when I got there. I ate the shrimp out of my lap as I drove, grinning at my predicament the whole way. When I got home, my dad walked out just as I was getting out of the car. Laughing I said "look at me! I did such a good job. So proud of myself."
There was no guilt, no shame, no anger. Not even a little frustration. It in no way affected my day, other than I had to change clothes when I got home. THIS is what it looks like to befriend one's inner critic. The critic learns to rest because it knows it is safe and cared for by you.
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