Dealing with self-criticism

Criticism saps our passion for life

“Certain basic doubts keep Colin from enjoying a truly comfortable sense of superiority.”

In a series of podcasts adapted from his book Toxic Criticism, Eric Maisel, PhD talks about how “criticism and self-criticism interfere with our ability to find our life purpose and live as strongly, passionately, and effectively as we would like to live.”

He notes there are many sources of judgment we receive in life, and “By virtue of the interaction between the criticism she received in her formative years and her particular personality, each individual more inclines toward sociopathy or self-flagellation.

“If she has become even just a mild self-critic, she will continue to criticize herself in the absence of any new criticism from the world and she will take the information she receives from the world as new opportunities to criticize herself.”

It must make sense to stop

Dr. Maisel says “In order to eliminate self-criticism, it has to make sense to you to eliminate self-criticism.

“As long as you hold it as sensible to criticize yourself for making this or that big mistake or for failing yourself in this or that big way, you will continue to criticize yourself.

“The alternative to self-criticism isn’t denial or a merry relinquishment of power and control.”

Continued in his article: Silencing Self-Criticism

Comic from the Ballard Street series by Jerry Van Amerongen.

My related article: Being Creative and Self-critical

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Eric Maisel, creativity book, dealing with self sabotage, self criticism