Mindful Monday: Reclaiming Our Power

When we think about reclaiming our power, we often only look to the outer world: speaking our truth, setting boundaries, honouring our sacredness.

And while these are essential, I’ve learned that reclaiming our power also includes our inner world.

One of the greatest game changers on my journey has been understanding the Inner Critic — learning to identify its voice, and even more importantly, learning how to defend myself from its harsh attacks. 

We all have an Inner Critic.

The Inner Critic is a part of our psyche that forms when we are very young. It was shaped by what we heard from parents, siblings, teachers, and society — all the ideas about what is “right” or “wrong.”

Its original purpose was to keep us safe. But as adults, this part of us is highly critical and controlling. It shames and blames us. We never quite meet its standards, and it no longer serves us in any way.

Does your Inner Critic ever say things like...

“You should be ashamed of yourself.”

“You’re really letting yourself go.”

“Why can’t you be more like her/him?”

“You failed again.”

“Who do you think you are?”

"Why can't you be happy like everyone else?" 

“You’ll never change.”

"It's rude to speak up."

“You’re not (smart, pretty, successful, strong, funny, quiet, loud, good) enough.”

And yet, the Inner Critic is not the enemy.

It’s simply outdated protection.

When we recognize this, we can learn to work with it rather than collapse under it. When we can identify this voice rather than react or believe it, we are free.

A Recent Encounter with My Inner Critic

A few weeks ago, I attended a deeply transformative retreat. I touched new, uncharted territory within my soul. The day after the retreat, I felt spacious, alive, and empowered. 

Then, the following morning, everything changed.

The spaciousness evaporated. I woke up feeling heavy, like grey walls were closing in around me. A voice crept in:

“See? That didn’t last. Look at you.”

These words evoked shame. The contrast was sharp. One day, deeply connected to my truth, the next, constricted and small.

Gratefully, it didn’t take long to recognize who had arrived: the Inner Critic — the part that shows up precisely when we expand beyond the limits of our conditioning.

How I Responded

The moment I understood what was happening, I took charge.

I stood up, raised my hands, held them out in front of me, and said — firmly and out loud:

“Stop. No one talks to me like this. You don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. Leave now!”

I paused.
I breathed.
I checked in with myself.
Then I repeated something similar again — short, simple, clear.

It might sound a little strange to say that I speak to my Inner Critic out loud, but after years of practice — both personally and with clients — I know it works. So I keep doing it.

After giving my Inner Critic a firm talk, I put on some music and danced. Movement is another powerful way to shift the energy and shake the Inner Critic out of the driver’s seat.

And how I felt shifted dramatically.

The heaviness lifted.
I felt energized.  
I had a smile on my face. 
I felt empowered.

Had I let the Inner Critic run the show, it could have hijacked my day — or my entire week. It has done so in the past.

When we defend ourselves from the Inner Critic, we are taking our power back.

The Inner Critic Will Visit When We Grow

The Inner Critic’s job is to keep us in the same old box. It believes sameness equals safety.

So when we grow, heal, awaken, or make significant life changes, the Inner Critic will often show up — not because we’re failing, but because we’re expanding. And it will do whatever it can to keep us from changing.

I see this often with my clients. They’ll be sharing something meaningful about a shift they’ve experienced — they’re excited, hopeful — and then, almost in the same breath, they say, “But it probably won’t last,” or “What will people think?”

This is when I gently invite them to pause and notice how the Inner Critic has just hijacked the moment. Together, we use a simple technique to interrupt the attack, and almost instantly, space and clarity return. It really can be that simple.

Practice Is the Path, the Path is Practice.

Our mindfulness practice is what brings us back home to our truth - one moment at a time.

It helps us stay close to our body, feelings, sensations, thoughts, and reactions.

It allows us to see clearly, objectively.

To discern truth from conditioning.

To recognize the Inner Critic for what it is: a scared, outdated part that no longer needs to run our lives.

And every time we do this, we deepen our connection to our true essence and reclaim our power.

As we reclaim power in our inner world, we begin to show up differently in our outer world.

This is freedom.

With Love,

Diane