As February is waiting in the wings I am bracing myself. Traditionally speaking, it has always been my most challenging month…even more so than December!
Why?
I, like many others, tend to miss the sun this time of year. I get moody, irrational, cynical and just down-right crabby. Unfortunately, when those winter blues kick in, that pesky little negative “Inner Critic” voice in my head starts to pipe up…you know-- the deflater, the excuse maker, the TERMINATOR. It seems to be a pattern for me.
He says things like…
”Well it is an awful long time until spring, you can worry about your bum in April” (You see my inner critic doesn’t know that I actually care more about my health than the size of my bum…he hasn’t really clued in yet –shhhhhh don’t tell him)
and
“Girl, are you ever down…you know what would cheer you up? Junk food!”
Oh and my personal favorite
“Chocolate=Happy…wink”.
Sometimes, the voice can be really nasty and say things like “You suck at this” and “Why do you bother, you are never going to succeed.” Nice ,eh?
Oh, don’t look at me like that; you know exactly what I am talking about. Even though your script may be different, we all have an inner critic to contend with.
The thing is, when our defenses are low, and it does happen, it is very very easy to let our guard down. We tend to step back into our comfort zones and rely on our old “reliable” thought patterns to set the pace. Unfortunately, those thought patterns will typically serve only to sabotage our efforts. It is much easier to believe the bad stuff anyway, isn’t it? After all, this positive self talk is new to us…and it doesn’t come naturally. We have to really work at it; and when we are feeling blue, the effort seems that much greater.
But I am here to tell you now; this is precisely when you NEED to push through.
Recognizing and acknowledging our own patterns is vital to reaching our goals (Any goal!). In fact when you begin to distinguish that “inner critic” and recognize the destructive force behind those negative thoughts, you will be better able to challenge them head on, rather than let them eat away at you. So be prepared, come armed, and be ready to battle. When you start to hear that familiar script, that negative self talk…quietly shake your head in condescension and say, “Tsk Tsk, is that all you got?” You will be amazed by the results when you stand up and fight for yourself!
Yes, historically speaking, February has challenged me. I recognize that…and thank goodness I do. I am digging my heals in and refusing to budge. Even. One. Inch.
Live Well,
Jen
Why?
I, like many others, tend to miss the sun this time of year. I get moody, irrational, cynical and just down-right crabby. Unfortunately, when those winter blues kick in, that pesky little negative “Inner Critic” voice in my head starts to pipe up…you know-- the deflater, the excuse maker, the TERMINATOR. It seems to be a pattern for me.
He says things like…
”Well it is an awful long time until spring, you can worry about your bum in April” (You see my inner critic doesn’t know that I actually care more about my health than the size of my bum…he hasn’t really clued in yet –shhhhhh don’t tell him)
and
“Girl, are you ever down…you know what would cheer you up? Junk food!”
Oh and my personal favorite
“Chocolate=Happy…wink”.
Sometimes, the voice can be really nasty and say things like “You suck at this” and “Why do you bother, you are never going to succeed.” Nice ,eh?
Oh, don’t look at me like that; you know exactly what I am talking about. Even though your script may be different, we all have an inner critic to contend with.
The thing is, when our defenses are low, and it does happen, it is very very easy to let our guard down. We tend to step back into our comfort zones and rely on our old “reliable” thought patterns to set the pace. Unfortunately, those thought patterns will typically serve only to sabotage our efforts. It is much easier to believe the bad stuff anyway, isn’t it? After all, this positive self talk is new to us…and it doesn’t come naturally. We have to really work at it; and when we are feeling blue, the effort seems that much greater.
But I am here to tell you now; this is precisely when you NEED to push through.
Recognizing and acknowledging our own patterns is vital to reaching our goals (Any goal!). In fact when you begin to distinguish that “inner critic” and recognize the destructive force behind those negative thoughts, you will be better able to challenge them head on, rather than let them eat away at you. So be prepared, come armed, and be ready to battle. When you start to hear that familiar script, that negative self talk…quietly shake your head in condescension and say, “Tsk Tsk, is that all you got?” You will be amazed by the results when you stand up and fight for yourself!
Yes, historically speaking, February has challenged me. I recognize that…and thank goodness I do. I am digging my heals in and refusing to budge. Even. One. Inch.
Live Well,
Jen
February is the month of love. Love yourself.
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