Do you have an innner critic?

[dayhiker]

I came across this paragraph when reading a human growth website describing a workshop. I've never been to a Christian retreat that deal with this issue. But I think it would be really healthy for Christians to talk this one thru.



How loud is the voice of your inner critic? Is it screaming at you from time to time? Or is the volume low, providing a constant drone? The inner critic is what keeps our mask (idealized self image) intact, and difficult to move. We get caught in a cycle in which it is nearly impossible to be authentic. In this workshop, we will explore how you want to be seen, what you perceive will happen if you are not seen this way, and what you "miss" in life by keeping up this appearance. ... we will explore lower self work around the actual voice of the inner critic. Bring your inner critic with you, and we'll give him/her a good workout.


Anyone have any thoughts? Are we as Christians very concern with how others see us? Our testimony. What about Jesus who did a number of things that leaders in His day saw and did not view as a good testimony?

 

[Life2Christ]

The trick is, you have to recognize the inner critic as it is speaking to you. Many times you don't, you think the critic is just your natural thought pattern. Once you hear that nasty critic, you silence it by ignoring it. But first you have to recognize it and mentally separate from it.

 

[dayhiker]

ya, recognition is always the 1st step.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

In some ways I care what others think of me, but in regard to my belief in Christ I do not care what others think.
I try to be the friend I would want and I'm not really sure how others see me, but I don't think about it much. I used to, but not lately.

I do have an inner critic. She says I will never be skinny enough, or pretty enough or attractive enough. I don't like her very much . Just because she says those things though, I still TRY. I do not give up (well I have my moments)

Sometimes I really wish I could have my friends behind one of those 2 way glass window/mirrors and see how they truly speak about me if they didn't know I was listening. I don't think people are truly honest when they know you, because they don't want to hurt your feelings. I also think it would be great if I could read minds, but I wouldn't want others to be able to read mine lol.
I would also like to have the same scenerio with men that I found attractive. To see what they REALLY think.

 

[RuthD]

I do have an inner critic that is good for me but I also have a nasty one that is mean to me. When the nasty one acts up I pray a lot and look to Jesus for I know he loves me as I am. I also challenge the mean critic by telling her that I am good and deserve good. I have done this so much it sometimes comes naturally but other times I get hooked into the mean stuff said and feel down. Then I need to recognize that those are lies and I don't need them.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

I also have someone else that steps in when I look in the mirror, and I never look like I do in my mind!

I find that the older I get, the better I was!

 

[Bridgit]

I have an inner critic, but I am more concerned about living according to God's will for me. If my inner critic conforms to the Word of God, I listen to it. If my inner critic conforms to the world and is set to bring me down, I try not to listen to it. The more I practice this, the easier it gets.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

I have an inner critic, but I am more concerned about living according to God's will for me. If my inner critic conforms to the Word of God, I listen to it. If my inner critic conforms to the world and is set to bring me down, I try not to listen to it. The more I practice this, the easier it gets.

Well my inner critic is always telling me how rotten I am. How I will never be enough, never be thin enough, woman enough, friendly enough. I know different, but still that critic hangs out trying to get to me. I too, am concerned with living according to God's will for me. But since I don't hear an audible voice from God, sometimes it's hard for me to pinpoint exactly what His will is at a given time.

 

[mandelduke]

I have an inner critic his name is Lucifer so when he starts criticizing me, I rebuke him.

 

[dayhiker]

In the name of Jesus.

 

[Bridgit]

Well my inner critic is always telling me how rotten I am. How I will never be enough, never be thin enough, woman enough, friendly enough.

When you hear these statements you know that it is not God who is saying these things. God's love for you, as we read in His Word, is unconditional and will never end.

You are the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8), He collects all your tears (Psalm 56:8), He comforts you (Matt. 5:4), He died for you ....

Paul says in Galatians 1:10: Obviously I am not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant.

IMO, seeking the approval of man only brings sadness and stress.

 

[exitstageright]

When you hear these statements you know that it is not God who is saying these things. God's love for you, as we read in His Word, is unconditional and will never end.

You are the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8), He collects all your tears (Psalm 56:8), He comforts you (Matt. 5:4), He died for you ....

Paul says in Galatians 1:10: Obviously I am not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant.

IMO, seeking the approval of man only brings sadness and stress.

This is true. However,if you do not get the approval of you boss,in this hard enconomy,you soon will be out of a job. I am content in the fact that GOD loves me. However,there is just no getting around it. The facts are that we have to live with,and have to deal with these knuckleheads down here on earth..........everyday!
I treat negative thoughts as I would an annoying telephone call at 3:00AM. In other words,I will just "HANG UP"!

There is an old saying that goes like this. "When Satan reminds you of your PAST,you just remind him of his FUTURE."

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

When you hear these statements you know that it is not God who is saying these things. God's love for you, as we read in His Word, is unconditional and will never end.

You are the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8), He collects all your tears (Psalm 56:8), He comforts you (Matt. 5:4), He died for you ....

Paul says in Galatians 1:10: Obviously I am not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant.

IMO, seeking the approval of man only brings sadness and stress.

Yes I know, thanks Bridgit . I don't really try to please people. I try to be the best human I can be at all times though.

What about this....what if you have a thought in your head...something you think would be a "good idea" to do. How do you determine if it's just you or if it's God wanting you to do it?

 

[Bridgit]

Well, it depends on the idea. But, I am, right now, so amazed that my present experience is allowing me to answer your question. This is God in action! Praise God!

I have mentioned earlier somewhere on the forum that my department at work announced, at the beginning of this year, that they have decided to reorganize the assistants positions. Consequently, all the current administrative assistants will have to re-apply for the new positions. However, there are no guarantees we will be chosen as the positions are advertised throughout the company!

Well, the advertisement for the new jobs came and went. I applied and I was not chosen. This means that I will lose my job later on this year.

I started to think that I owe for my house and I owe for my car and that, as I don't have any family in the US, if I can't find a job before I loose mine I'll be facing the streets or be looking for the favor of a good friend. So suddenly I got an idea! I thought, maybe I should take a loan to pay for my car loan, so that at least I'll have a mode of transportation and I could use my car to sleep in. Well, as I was pondering on this idea for a bit, it is like I heard God saying: "Woa, Brigitte, where are you going? Your mind is going at a 100 m/h thinking and making plans for yourself when I want you to be still and wait on Me." "Do you realize that if you go ahead and do what you plan on doing, it means that you have no faith in Me?" "I am in control of your situation and will provide for you. I will not abandon you. You are my child and I love you."

This was an amazing moment for me. I am glad that He showed me that my idea was not His and was wrong.

Of course, there are some times when I have ideas, but am not sure if God approves it after I asked Him in my prayers. If I think it does not violate His Word, then I go on with my idea. If I have a doubt that my idea is a good one, then I drop it.