We all have moments of doubt in our lives – those time when those painful thoughts set in and seem impossible to get rid of. I’ll never be good enough. I can’t do this. Happiness in meant for other people, not me. Why do I even bother trying? Now think if we constantly had a different person around us who was constantly saying these things to us – criticizing our actions, putting us down, and berating everything we do and say. If you envision your “inner critic” as a totally separate individual, would you ever want to keep that person around? Of course not! You’d want to get as far away from them as possible!
Now think of the type of person you would want around in a crisis – strong, courageous, kind, and resourceful. Here’s a secret: You can literally learn to be your own champion for yourself, and become the type of person you would want to have around – someone who lifts you up and encourages you, not just someone who endlessly criticizes everything you do.
- Stop making excuses. Self-doubt causes us to rationalize a situation to fit our emotional state. We may be afraid to fail, afraid of the judgment of others, or afraid to try something we’ve never tried before. The enemy is our own self-doubt, which if we allow it to will start producing excuses, alibis, and a thousand reasons why we can’t or won’t be able to do something. Start by realizing that excuses are just mental walls we create to box ourselves in and limit our potential.
The only person who can truly prevent someone from achieving something is yourself – so try this simple exercise: Make a list of things to need to get done in the next week, and then make a list of all the excuses you have to not get those things done. Now make a second list of ways in which you can alter your schedule or your daily routine, so as to make sure that none of those excuses hold up. Once we hold ourselves accountable, excuses will fade away and positive action will be the only path forward.
- Avoid the comparison trap. We are all different human beings – with different thoughts, emotions, cultures, and values. No one person is the same as anyone else, so why compare yourself to anyone else? Criticizing yourself for not having accomplished what someone else has is literally as pointless as criticizing yourself for not being able to fly as well as an eagle or a hawk. Realize that your own journey is totally unique, and unlike anyone else’s. If you look at someone else and wish that you could accomplish what they have done, start by writing out a list of steps you can take toward achieving the same things – but realize that success is not a straight path, but a long and winding road with obstacles, valleys, and the occasional roadblock. Everyone gets to the finish line in a different way, and at a different time.
- Remember that setbacks are only temporary. At first, obstacles we encounter will many times seem like huge stumbling blocks in our path forward. As time goes on, we realize that it often wasn’t as bad as we thought it was. Something that seems like the end of the world at first many times become less important and less catastrophic as time passes and we look at it in hindsight. Think back on several examples in your life where you encountered a problem that seemed impossible to solve, and you didn’t know what to do at first. How did you eventually find a way to overcome that problem? By realizing that we have the power within ourselves to overcome any setback, we can truly turn our own inner critic into our inner champion.
– Tim S. Marshall, Author of “The Power of Breaking Fear”
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Some reviews of “The Power of Breaking Fear”:
“The Power of Breaking Fear”
“Tim S. Marshall has gone out of his way to arm his readers with a seemingly endless number of vitality strategies that are easy to incorporate into one’s daily life. The Power of Breaking Fear belongs on every bookshelf.”
– U.S Review
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– Independent Press Award (IPA)
“The Power of Breaking Fear” winner for Best Audio and book Content!
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“The Power of Breaking Fear” is a must-read for anyone who is frustrated in life, and wants to achieve true long-lasting success and happiness.”
-Paul Noble, 5-Time Emmy Award Winner
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“The Power of Breaking Fear” is one of the most fascinating books I have seen. A fresh new look to end the fears that hold us back from true success.”
– Kenneth Blanchard, #1 Best-Selling Author of The One Minute Manager, 13-million copies sold.
