I often describe myself in therapy - like I will say, "part of me feels" and go on to say whatever it is I am feeling. I'm always conflicted. So annoying. T says that he hears part of me (my inner critic) to be almost tyrannical. That gave me pause...

Lately, I'm practicing self-care. I've never really grasped this concept, but I think that was because my self-care needs to start from the inside and not the outside. Meaning, if I just went and took a bath just so I could say I was practicing self-care, I'd start critiquing myself almost immediately. I wasn't setting the scene right. I needed a candle. Blah blah blah. Then later, I'm not taking a bath often enough. It didn't help anyway. So more blah blah blah.

Instead, I'm just trying to take care of myself almost like I'm another person. Anytime I notice myself criticizing myself for not "doing it right" I gently say something along the lines of, "its hard to do this because of all you've been through, isn't it? It's ok, Freewilled."

I even put my hand on my heart a lot. I felt really weird about it at first but now I find it comforting.

I know its prob a little "out there", but seems to be helping me quiet the harshness I'm used to.....