How Well Do You Handle Your Inner Critic?
How Well Do You Cope With Change?
How to Tell if You Are "Too Busy"?
How Well Do You Manage Stress?
How Well Do You Take Responsibility For Yourself?
How Well Do You Fulfill Your Needs?
Are You Living with a "Victim" Mentaltity?
How Well Do You Express Your Needs?
How Well Do You Handle Worry?
Test Your Temper
How Healthy Is Your Relationship with Money?
How Well Do You Handle Fear?
How Well Do You Part Ways?
Do You Have Workaholic Habits?
How Well Do You Handle Failure?
How Well Do You Practice Empathy?
How Defensive Are You?
Is Your On-line Friendship Too Friendly?
Has Your Friendship Become an Emotional Affair?

Quizzes

How Well Do You Handle Your Inner Critic?

Most of us have an Inner Critic, an internal “voice” that judges our actions or inaction, tells us what’s wrong with us and how we should or should not be. This constant judgment can lead to debilitating feelings of guilt, shame and anxiety. While it’s difficult to silence the critic completely, there are ways to cope with it. Answer these true/ false questions to discover how well you handle your Inner Critic.

True False  
    Set 1
1. I can’t seem to do anything right. I feel depressed and incapacitated by the constant nagging, judging voice inside me.
2. I don’t necessarily realize I’m at the effect of my Inner Critic, but I often compare myself to others and never quite measure up. I feel inadequate.
3. Just when I’m about to embark on something new and exciting, such as a job or relationship, my Inner Critic kicks up doubt and fear to prevent me from pursuing the opportunity.

4. I have difficulty staying in the present moment because my internal judging voice loudly intrudes, dictating what I should and shouldn’t do.
5. Because of that voice, I second-guess my choices and actions and don’t trust myself. As a result, I worry that I’ll make a big mistake and something bad will happen.
     
    Set 2
1. I see my Inner Critic as a misguided ally who wants to help or protect me. I look for the positive intention behind what it says and embrace that rather than the negative message.
2 I’ve gotten to know the themes my Inner Critic harps on, so I can distinguish those voices from other more useful internal dialogue.
3. It’s helpful to notice when my Inner Critic is present. I breathe deeply and center myself to release fear and anxiety and return to a more peaceful place.
4. Giving my critical inner voices funny names and descriptions —such as Taskmonster or Paula Perfectionist—helps me diminish their power and not take them seriously.
5. As I’ve become skilled at handling the Inner Critic, it bothers me less often. I still hear it sometimes, but I don’t believe what it says and it rarely affects me adversely.

 

If you answered true more often in Set 1 and false more often in Set 2, you may wish to learn some effective ways to handle your Inner Critic. Please call if you’d like support in exploring this further.