5 Techniques to Overcome Your Inner Critic
You already have your best asset for success. Your brain is the biggest influencer on whether you’re going to meet your goals or not. And you can use scientists’ understanding of how the brain works, how it reacts to setting and achieving goals.
source: David Stewart
Neuroscience tells us that serotonin and dopamine are powerful neurotransmitters produced by the brain in response to success, by setting a goal and achieving it. Studies have shown that reward-setting behavior increases the levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain. Set a goal and achieve it, and that flood of pleasure and self-confidence is your brain releasing those feel-good chemicals. And the more you do it, the better you’ll feel.
Setting up a positive mindset feedback loop has a similar effect. Use these five techniques to program your brain with positive statements and thoughts, and your mindset will be positive and focused on success.
Be positive!
Load your brain with positive thoughts, words, and actions to keep it focused on achievement. Celebrate all your accomplishments no matter how small. You can create a positive feedback loop that will increase your self-confidence, boost serotonin, and encourage you to even greater heights.
Visualize accomplishment
Create and visualize alternative scenarios. Imagine what it feels like to achieve your goals – see yourself winning, being congratulated, feeling proud that you did it. You’re giving your mind a blueprint of what you want.
Set baby step goals
Set your sights high but don’t forget to include smaller, intermediate steps to keep your brain encouraged and your focus high. As for any project, break it down as much as you need to so that your goal feels manageable. If your brain can see a logic in what you’re doing, you’ll have the energy to get it done. Keep ticking off tasks and achievements, and you will know that you’re making progress.
Fire up those positive brain chemicals
Keep track of your accomplishments. Dopamine and serotonin are the brain’s pleasure chemicals, and they get a massive kick from achievement. Whenever you set a goal and accomplish it, your brain gets flooded with feel-good chemicals and energy.
Stay on message
If you listen to that negative Inner Critic telling you ‘there’s no way you can run that marathon, win that art competition, write that novel or get that promotion,’ then it will be harder to succeed. You need to send a clear message to your subconscious about your goal, and stay on message. Conflicting messages will undermine all your effort: keep the programming clear to keep your brain focused on achieving.
Your brain is incredibly powerful. It’s one of the most powerful tools you have to accomplish your desires. By understanding the complex interaction of chemicals and mindset, you can reset the huge potential for your brain to be your success powerhouse.