When it comes to change, we’re often our own worst enemy. Anyone who has tried to embark on a professional or personal challenge is familiar with the voice of the inner critic that says things like “you’re not good enough”, “this is a stupid idea”, “nothing will ever work out”. Most self-development advice espouses the need to overcome self-doubt and banish negative thoughts.
"Listening to your inner critic, when done right, can be a useful tool"
Therapist and Human Behaviour professor, Melody Wilding disagrees and explains how this prevailing notion that calls for eradicating so-called “negative emotions” is not just plain wrong – it can actually backfire.
While it’s true that self-doubt can be toxic, what’s more problematic is the fact that we never learn to deal with this normal, expected emotion in healthy ways. Any change brings up fear and worries–and learning to cope with uncertainty is a skill. Melody Wilding, with the help of the ‘name it and reframe it’ strategy (mental rehearsal), helps us to see our inner critic as our best friend, and seeing it as instructive rather than destructive
Trying to Change? How Self-Doubt Can Actually Help | Melody Wilding | TEDxBergenCommunityCollege
