I realized today (just now!) that if I talked to anyone else the way I talk to myself, I wouldn't blame a psychologist for thinking me a sociopath. If somebody talked to my friends and family - or even a relative stranger - the way my inner critic actually talks to me, I would want their head.

So ... why do I listen to it, whatever "it" represents? Why accept the endless condescension and pessimistic contempt as remotely factual or useful!? I want to tell it leave me alone, to shut up, to go slink into it's corner and have a timeout. A long one. How about, forever? Forever is good.