Inner critic

[ˈɪnə ˈkrɪtɪk] n.

She’s the voice pointing out every pore on your face when you glance in the mirror and chastising your latest Zoomenabled work presentation performance when you’re trying to empty your brain with some trashy fiction at bedtime. ‘Having an unrelenting inner critic is like being bullied constantly by your own thoughts,’ says Dr Bamford. In fact, in WH’S 2019 Project Body Love survey, 32% of respondents said they often used very negative language when they spoke to themselves. Calling out your inner critic takes time, but the process starts with catching it in the act. ‘Start by writing down all the things you’re saying to yourself when you look in the mirror, or whatever time she strikes,’ says Dr Raspin. ‘Once you’ve identified your inner critic, ask yourself: who is that voice coming from and what does it look like? Picturing your inner critic as an independent being can allow you to externalise and more easily ignore it.’ Doodling encouraged.