Conquering Your Inner Critics: A Creative Approach to Overcoming Self-Doubt

Have you ever faced a blank page, poised to write the opening line of what you envision as your groundbreaking novel, only to be struck by the sudden realization that no one might ever read it? Or perhaps you’ve stepped up to a microphone, ready to lay down some verses on a beat, when an echo of your father’s skepticism about your rapping skills resurfaces. Maybe, as you prepare to film a YouTube video, you’re interrupted by a harsh comment from a critic suggesting you never should have made the video in the first place.

If these scenarios sound familiar, you’re not alone. These inner voices, often critical and demoralizing, are common obstacles that stand between us and our creative endeavors. Sometimes, we manage to push past them and complete our projects. Other times, these inner critics overpower us, preventing us from finishing what we started.

So, how do we silence these inner critics? This video will explore strategies to manage and mitigate their influence. But first, let me share a passage from Anne Lamott’s book Bird by Bird, which provides a fascinating perspective on dealing with inner critics:

In her book, Lamott describes how she handles the “shitty first draft” phase of writing. She illustrates this by personifying the various critical voices that plague her creative process. For instance, she mentions a voice she calls the “vinegar lip reader lady,” who dismisses her work as uninteresting, and the “emaciated German male” who critiques her every thought. Other critical voices include judgmental parents and disapproving figures from her past.

Lamott recounts a technique given to her by a hypnotist: when facing these critical voices, she closes her eyes, quiets her mind, and then imagines placing each voice into a mason jar. Each voice—be it a demanding parent or a critical colleague—is envisioned as a mouse, dropped into the jar, and the lid is secured. The idea is to visualize the volume control on the jar, turning it up to hear the critical voices in full force, and then turning it down to silence them. This exercise helps to regain control and focus on the task at hand.

What I appreciate about Lamott’s approach is threefold: first, it’s beautifully written and aesthetically engaging; second, it makes me feel less alone in my struggles with self-doubt; and third, it transforms intangible thoughts into tangible entities, making them more manageable.

This concept of personifying inner voices extends beyond just handling self-criticism. Tim Urban, in his blog Wait But Why and related TED Talk, applies personification to address procrastination. He contrasts the brain of a non-procrastinator with his own, illustrating how the “instant gratification monkey” derails productive efforts, leaving the “rational decision maker” powerless.

Similarly, the band Andrew Jackson Jihad explores personification in their song to address deeper human fears. By framing these fears as characters, they make the abstract more relatable and manageable.

In this video, I will use personification to explore my own inner critics. Here’s how I’ve identified and visualized seven distinct inner critics:

1. Nelly the Nihilist: This critic questions the value of any effort, suggesting that since everything will eventually be forgotten, why bother contributing anything at all? When making content, Nelly’s voice tells me that the world doesn’t need more material and that my efforts are pointless.

2. Terry the Terrified: Terry is afraid that my work will fail or be poorly received. This voice is worried about wasting time and fears that I’m not good enough. For this video, Terry’s fear manifests as anxiety about whether the concept will resonate with viewers.

3. Nina the Needy: Nina craves universal approval and can’t handle criticism. This critic worries about making something that will be disliked or criticized. In the context of this video, Nina’s voice is concerned about the potential negative reactions and prefers to seek validation from past positive comments instead of creating new content.

4. Dave the Distractible: Dave is the embodiment of procrastination, always finding excuses to avoid work. His distractions include checking social media, browsing the fridge, or finding other diversions. For this video, Dave’s distractions led me to procrastinate and opt for dinner with a friend instead of working.

5. Hugo the Hater: Hugo represents internalized hate and negative comments. He amplifies fears that my work will be deemed worthless or criticized harshly. Hugo’s voice often echoes past negative feedback, convincing me that my content is inadequate.

6. Connie the Comparer: Connie compares my work to that of others and highlights my perceived shortcomings. She uses comparisons to undermine my confidence, suggesting that my work will never measure up to the best. In this video, Connie’s voice suggests that this piece won’t be as good as previous successful ones.

7. Percy the Perfectionist: Percy demands perfection and criticizes anything less than flawless. This critic causes me to obsess over minor details and delays completion. For this video, Percy’s insistence on perfection has led to multiple retakes and hesitations about publishing until I meet his high standards.

By personifying these critics, I’ve learned that rather than trying to silence them completely, it may be more effective to understand and utilize them. These voices, though often painful, come from a place of personal experience and pain. By acknowledging them and addressing them creatively, we can transform these challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.

As Neil Gaiman wisely advises, when faced with difficulties, we should focus on creating good work. This video, which took time and effort, is a testament to that process. If you found this approach helpful, please subscribe and share your own experiences with personifying inner critics. Let’s embrace the voices that challenge us and turn them into sources of inspiration.