MBA143: Imposter Syndrome – Banishing Your Inner Critic

In this episode, author and renown speaker Denise Jacobs helps you to overcome Imposter Syndrome and silence your inner critic to unleash your creativity.  After listening to this episode, you'll understand: Why your inner voice may be holding you back The difference between imposter syndrome and your inner critic How to silence your inner critic to boost creative thinking  Show Notes Your inner critic is that fearful voice inside you that holds you back and destroys your creativity. It says you’re not good enough, it compares you to others, and it prevents creative thinking. Creativity isn’t just for artists. Denise describes creativity as “a spark, a stirring, an impetus: a powerful force that compels us to create and bring an idea to life”. We use creativity for problem solving, for identifying potential solutions, creating proposals, and throughout our daily lives. The inner critic blocks creativity and prevents you from establishing a state of flow. While the inner critic is part of your brain’s internal mechanism, silencing your inner critic can be achieved through awareness and intentional practice. Swipe Left One approach to banishing your inner critic is to remain present and aware of your thoughts. Whenever a negative or unwanted thought comes into your mind, use a hand gesture to ‘swipe left’ as if you’re deleting something from your phone. Studies have shown a strong connection between physical gestures and our thoughts. By recognizing negative thoughts and using a hand gesture to delete that thought, you’ll make a connection over time between the gesture and removing an unwanted thought. Think Like a Scientist Another approach to silencing your inner critic and overcoming imposter syndrome is to apply scientific reasoning. This is also known as cognitive reappraisal. Remember that just because you have a thought doesn’t make that thought true. The next time your inner voice tells you that you’re not good enough, challenge the thought the same way a scientist would. Ask “Is it true that I’m not good enough?” and then look for evidence to disprove or support that theory. Gather evidence of past successes and you’ll find that you can reason away those negative thoughts. Comparison Syndrome To deal with your inner critic when it says that you’re ‘less than’ someone else, create a brag file (or kudos file). A brag file is a repository of all of the positive feedback and appreciation you have received. Reviewing your brag file will help you create a personal inventory and discover all that you have to offer. Banishing your inner critic frees your creativity and gives you the courage to take the next steps in your career and in life. Listen to the full episode to understand the brain science behind the limiting beliefs and discover more techniques to silence your inner critic . http://traffic.libsyn.com/masteringbusinessanalysis/MBA143.mp3 Z Your Homework Make a commitment to tune in to your inner critic. Then, exercise your capacity for attention and focus and when you have an inner critical thought, choose a thought that’s different. Make a decision to think that thought instead. Links mentioned in this episode: Denise’s Website DeniseJacobs.com Denise’s books Banish Your Inner Critic (Book Website) Denise’s Consulting site – The Creative Dose Denise Jacobs CEO - The Creative Dose Denise R. Jacobs is a Speaker + Author + Creativity Evangelist who speaks at conferences and consults with companies worldwide. As the Founder + CEO of The Creative Dose, she promotes techniques to unlock creativity and help people become engaged contributors, synergistic collaborators, and authentic leaders. Denise is the author of Banish Your Inner Critic, the premier handbook on silencing fears to unleash creativity.. X LinkedIn Thank you for listening to the program To get more valuable content to enhance your skills and advance your career, you can subscribe on iTunes and other podcatchers. Also, reviews on iTunes are highly appreciated! I read each review and it helps keep me motivated to continue to bring you valuable content each week. . The post MBA143: Imposter Syndrome – Banishing Your Inner Critic appeared first on Mastering Business Analysis.