My therapist was the first to enlighten me that I had an undesirable mental roommate. She told me I had a loud and harsh inner-critic. I remember pausing and asking, “What’s an inner critic?” She went on to tell me a lot of artist-temperaments experience inner-critics. Basically, they are this really critical, loathing, self-deprecating voice that gets you to give up on anything worth striving for. (Or, simply tells you, “you’re ugly and no one likes you.”)
Inner-critics are sneaky. I was never aware I was experiencing one until it was literally pointed out to me. I thought I really did just suck at everything. I figured it was normal to experience paralyzing fear when attempting to create, or try new things. Over time, I’ve learned to identify the inner-critic voice and create, despite it.
Here is a small collection of things that has helped heal my creative process from my inner critic —