The Inner Critic- something very familiar if you are an enneagram type 1 like me.
(If you don't know what the enneagram is, it is nine personality types and you can take a quiz here, but I recommend also studying the types and determining for yourself rather than blindly going off the quiz.)
Criticism isn't bad as it can help you grow and improve and everyone knows the phrase "you are your own worst critic." However, the inner critic is different. The inner critic is much more than just a voice inside your head. It is constantly telling you to do more, say more, and be more. It is saying "eh you could be more perfect than that" and "oh that wasn't quite right, try again" after everything you do in life. You are constantly second-guessing yourself and have high self-expectations. High expectations can be good but they shouldn't be hard and harsh expectations.
I started to recognize these expectations I put on myself a couple years ago before finding out about the enneagram and the inner critic. These expectations are strictly on myself and are strongly connected to my tendency to be a perfectionist in everything I do. When I first learned about the inner critic, I was surprised that this is something not everyone deals with and at the same time I was glad there are others out there who do experience it. You may have an inner critic and not be a type one but the way it functions is unique to type ones.
A type one strives for good in the world and values being morally right. This can cause the inner critic to be harsh when any little thing goes wrong or not according to plan or if the one makes a mistake.
I find it difficult at times to let my inner critic go and remind myself that mistakes are okay and human. It's okay when things don't go according to my perfect plan. I don't have to have everything figure out to the T because things will go wrong. I love details and planning, it makes me happy and calm. But sometimes focusing on the details distracts from the point or time doesn't allow for attention to every last detail.
Living with my inner critic has taught me to give myself grace. God gives us unwavering grace and we are worthy of receiving it in His eyes. No matter how many times we mess up or if things go wrong, we will always be worthy of receiving His love and grace. We should give ourselves this same love and grace. We should allow ourselves to receive it and live fully in light of it.
I'm still learning to embrace grace and live in it. But I hope that if you are also struggling with accepting grace from your inner critic, no matter what it looks like for you, that you are reminded you are worthy of grace.
e.k.
"But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it." - Ephesians 4:7
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9
(If you don't know what the enneagram is, it is nine personality types and you can take a quiz here, but I recommend also studying the types and determining for yourself rather than blindly going off the quiz.)
Criticism isn't bad as it can help you grow and improve and everyone knows the phrase "you are your own worst critic." However, the inner critic is different. The inner critic is much more than just a voice inside your head. It is constantly telling you to do more, say more, and be more. It is saying "eh you could be more perfect than that" and "oh that wasn't quite right, try again" after everything you do in life. You are constantly second-guessing yourself and have high self-expectations. High expectations can be good but they shouldn't be hard and harsh expectations.
I started to recognize these expectations I put on myself a couple years ago before finding out about the enneagram and the inner critic. These expectations are strictly on myself and are strongly connected to my tendency to be a perfectionist in everything I do. When I first learned about the inner critic, I was surprised that this is something not everyone deals with and at the same time I was glad there are others out there who do experience it. You may have an inner critic and not be a type one but the way it functions is unique to type ones.
A type one strives for good in the world and values being morally right. This can cause the inner critic to be harsh when any little thing goes wrong or not according to plan or if the one makes a mistake.
I find it difficult at times to let my inner critic go and remind myself that mistakes are okay and human. It's okay when things don't go according to my perfect plan. I don't have to have everything figure out to the T because things will go wrong. I love details and planning, it makes me happy and calm. But sometimes focusing on the details distracts from the point or time doesn't allow for attention to every last detail.
Living with my inner critic has taught me to give myself grace. God gives us unwavering grace and we are worthy of receiving it in His eyes. No matter how many times we mess up or if things go wrong, we will always be worthy of receiving His love and grace. We should give ourselves this same love and grace. We should allow ourselves to receive it and live fully in light of it.
I'm still learning to embrace grace and live in it. But I hope that if you are also struggling with accepting grace from your inner critic, no matter what it looks like for you, that you are reminded you are worthy of grace.
e.k.
"But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it." - Ephesians 4:7
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9
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