The Inner Critic. Do you know who I’m talking about? That sometimes soft, sometimes booming voice within that every human hears, and feels, from time to time. The one that tells you you’re not good enough, or smart enough or worthy or whatever story was planted in you over time. The one that fills you with self-doubt, steals energy and squashes creativity. This voice is different than the voice of discernment that helps make wise decisions or the voice of conscience that guides our morals. The thing about the Inner Critic is that his or her default mode is disempowerment and suppression. Not a healthy environment for creativity.

Creativity needs freedom to thrive. The voice of inspiration, or what I’ll call The Muse, is the antidote to the Inner Critic. The Muse can liberate the Inner Critic. Why should we care? From my experience teaching Intentional Creativity and watching many an Inner Critic set free, this liberation not only affects creativity but parallels how we walk with and experience life. We can better tap into our intuition, which leads to discovery and fun when spontaneity can occur. The freedom allows life to be lived in a richer way, free from or at least with a reduction of fear.

When that Inner Critic shows up, distract it so you can get a deep breath and allow yourself to call forth your Muse. A wise friend, Susan Jones, Behavior Specialist, San Juan Unified School District and Adverse Childhood Experience Study, Resilient Sacramento Education Chair, shared a wonderfully simple way to do just that with a tangerine. She uses them during Listening Circles and Restorative Circles by placing a tangerine or two at each seat. Susan says “When you’re busy peeling a Cutie, your hands are busy doing something, your brain is engaged in the task that your hands are doing, and this distraction allows you to move into another part of your brain, from the Amygdala, the emotional computer and alarm system, to the Prefrontal Cortex where cognitive and emotional decision making occurs. And the citrus smell, the essential oils of the peel, is a homeopathic scent that is calming. When the brain is engaged in the task it allows words to flow more freely as well. The best part is they get to eat the snack too!”

After this distraction, I suggest you move that Inner Critic out of your brain, releasing it with an offering of its own with these ten steps:

1. Notice how you are feeling, on a scale of 1-5, disempowered to empowered or suppressed to free.
2. Get two blank sheets of paper with a pen or markers or crayons or whatever is handy.
3. Express what the Inner Critic has to say with words, feelings, symbolic marks on one sheet.
4. On the second sheet express how you (your Muse, the real you) wants to feel.
5. Review the sheet from the Inner Critic. Without judging, just listen and acknowledge what is there.
6. Tell the Inner Critic he/she is in the process of being liberated and released and isn’t needed right now. You’ll let him/her know when needed.
7. Review the sheet from your Muse, your Wise Inner Voice. Notice, honor, and consider what the messages are.
8. Throw away, or better yet, burn the message from the Inner Critic if you are willing.
9. Keep the Muse’s page, make a play date to draw again and listen.
10. Remember next time the Inner Critic starts mouthing off, them him/her you’ve done this ritual…remember? Then call up the Muse and repeat.

Photo by Rosie Laird

This does take practice like so many things that are well ingrained within us. And when something goes wrong, not the way you desired, instead of inviting the Inner Critic back, ask “What did I learn and what can I do differently next time?”.

You can find Susan Jones at AcesConnection.com. Her monthly MeetUp, Mindful Educators, Sacramento is open to all interested in learning more about mindful education. Next week I’ll share thoughts on Creativity at Work and What is Art For?

Kerry Lee, a 25 year Benicia resident, is a Certified Intentional Creativity® Teacher and Coach, releases Inner Critics regularly by leading group workshops, experiential retreats (“Reclaim You: An Experiential Intentional Creativity Weekend for the Senses is May 19-21 in Sonoma, CA), Mobile Social Painting Parties with a Purpose, Customized Corporate Team Building and Corporate Social Responsibility events and teaching essential oil lifestyle and wellness classes. Find her at KerryLeeArt.com / #TheAlchemicalArtist

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