Inner critic or inner guide? Do you know the difference?
You have an opportunity to write an article, a blog, a social media post, or a chapter for a compilation book. At any stage of your writing, you might hear an inner critic, a voice saying things like, “No, that’s terrible. Start over.” This voice can also praise, saying, “I love that passage. Write more like that.”
Should you listen?
Should you obey this voice?
Perhaps.
The first step is to identify whether the critique comes from the inner critic or the inner guide. After years of experience with both, I’ve learned to distinguish between them.
However, newer writers might find this challenging and can easily be misled.
Understanding who’s speaking can save you a lot of grief and time.
The Inner Critic
This voice doesn’t only appear when you’re writing. It shows up anytime you step outside your comfort zone.
You decide to start a new LNC business.
Here are two examples of inner critic:
- The inner critic says, “Are you crazy? You don’t know anything about business.”
- “You think you want to be an expert witness? The other attorney could make you look foolish on the witness box.”
If you listen carefully, you might recognize the inner critic’s voice as that of a parent or authority figure from your formative years. This voice aimed to keep you safe, warning you about potential dangers. In adulthood, it internalizes fears, anxieties, and warnings.
You might wonder why the inner critic is concerned about writing, which isn’t life-threatening.
It’s knows your fears and self-doubt
The more you have fears, the louder it speaks, trying to protect you from mental and emotional pain, which it sees as dangerous.
The inner critic brings your fears to the surface, allowing you to confront them. This is an opportunity for an internal dialogue—a conversation between conflicting parts of yourself.
I recommend engaging directly with your inner critic.
Example Dialogue:
You: “Inner critic, why are you determined to make me give up writing? Why are you afraid I’d fail?”
Inner Critic: “Because you should be building your LNC business instead.”
You: “What if publishing this chapter helps build my business?”
Inner Critic: “You’d have to write a good chapter, though. You have no experience.”
You: “I can take courses, hire a coach, and connect with other writers. This preparation could help by providing constructive suggestions.”
These reassurances can pacify the inner critic. You’ll likely need to have this conversation multiple times, but each one will foster greater mutual understanding.
Over time, the inner critic can transform into an inner guide. The guide is a much more postivie voice.
The Inner Guide
The inner guide also speaks in various situations, but it encourages you to take big and small risks. It might say, “Why don’t you try this?” or “Ask this person for help. You CAN do this. You CAN write well.”
Unlike the inner critic, the inner guide’s voice is quieter. It often communicates through an unpleasant sensation, like the emotional equivalent of a sensation that something is off. For example, it might manifest as a feeling of discomfort when you read your work.
You might sense something is fundamentally wrong with your writing, like a fault line running through it.
You may feel that each step you take leads you further away from what you want to convey, leaving you unsure how to get back on track.
Pause
I’ve found I can improve the flow and organization of anything I write, like a chapter, blog post, or LNC report, when I put the work aside for a few days and converse with your inner guide. Say something like, “I’m putting this down and opening my mind to your guidance.” This break can offer a new perspective on your project. You may need to rearrange sections for better flow.
If a short break doesn’t help, consider putting your writing aside for a longer period, such as two days. Depending on your deadline, you might need a longer period. This extended break can be beneficial, especially if you have a targeted publication date.
When you return to the work, read it as if you didn’t write it. Try to approach it as someone unfamiliar with the subject. This can help you regain objectivity.
If your inner guide still doesn’t provide clarity, consider that you might be too attached to the time and effort you’ve invested. Listen carefully. Your inner guide might be telling you to “Get help.”
At this point, enlist a friend to read your work or seek professional editorial assistance. An objective response can be invaluable. If an editor suggests structural changes to solve the problem, consider their advice seriously.
I offer this type of editorial assistance to authors who work with me to write chapters for my compilation books.
Prime the Pump by Honing Your Awareness
Get clear on the difference between the inner critic and the inner guide. Remember that their purposes seem to be opposing.
The inner critic wants to keep you safe—whatever that means to you. No risk, no pain, it argues.
The inner guide wants you to explore, to go beyond your comfort zone, and to listen to its voice, which transcends reason, logic, and other left-brain limitations. No risk, no gain, it argues.
Listen to your body and rambling thoughts that may make no sense at first. Allow your inner guide to direct you. You’ll not only become a better writer, but you may also discover improvements in other aspects of your life.
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Pat Iyer is president of The Pat Iyer Group, which develops resources to assist LNCs in obtaining more clients, making more money, and achieving their business goals and dreams.
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