This post is part of a series for paid subscribers of Signal Strength, A five day writing challenge called Tuning into and Turning the Volume Down on Your Inner Critic. You can access the full series here:
That critical voice might seem angry, or maybe condescending, or contemptuous. But, just like with people, those stances are hiding something more vulnerable. Underneath, your inner critic is almost always afraid. It attacks your work before your boss can. It calls you lazy before anyone notices you’re tired. It figures that if it hurts you first, the real thing will hurt less.
You can’t reason with a fear you haven’t named. Once you know what the critic is guarding, you can start to negotiate.
The Pact still holds: timer set for 15 to 30 minutes, no editing, no cleanup pass.