Seeing my inner critic for the repulsive thug it really is

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.

So do it. The "power of now" if a powerful book for me because it was the first time anyone suggested to me that within me could be a crazy bad guy trying to hurt me. In the power of now the author suggests that there is a mind and a brain. The brain, or as he calls it, the ego... is an emotional being that is constantly hurling stupid things at you. Most people think this is their mind and they are highly associated with it. In other words these thoughts control them.

But once you realize you don't have to listen to these these thoughts... that you can laugh at them pull back and hear them and go "see what you did there ego" but I am not falling for it, you have "disassociated" from it and can use your mind to pull ahead.

abusing any part of one's own thoughts is counter-productive. one cannot 'cure' internal malice by beating it to death. the actual response is to THANK the horrid, unwanted, belittling thoughts, for paying attention to one, or for being there to constantly keep one company; to stand in for the parent that stood once in that place. find any reason to thank the voices, and praise them for being so perceptive, then remind them that their job is over, and they can relax now. yes, they can take time off, find another job, like praising you. if those voices are obcessive and compulsive, let them devote themselves to praising your every accomplishment. you have survived, you have been victorious; let that IN. ~!

I found these two books to contain really good insights pertaining to this subject matter:

The Power Of Now (Eckhart Tolle)
The Untethered Soul (Michael Singer)

Just throwing these out there....

Arriving at the awareness & realization that ultimately you are not the habitual chattering 'voice' of the physical mind, this is one of the most profound personal breakthroughs that a person can experience (IMHO)...

Thank you for starting this thread. It has really opened my eyes about my inner critic.