Retexturise your thinking: A way to soften your inner critic

You’ve probably noticed how often we use texture-based words to describe someone. For example…

‘He/she is such a smooth talker’

‘He/she is a real softy’

‘What he/she said really grates on me’.

We wouldn’t choose abrasive surfaces to rub against our skin and yet many of the thoughts we live with are just as abrasive. This is unfortunately too often true when it comes to our inner dialogue - negative beliefs about ourselves, our perceived faults or failings, all the stuff we give ourselves a hard time about.

Ask yourself…

What texture would you use to describe the voice inside your head?

Is it soft, rough or somewhere in between?

Can you make that little voice softer?

How does this voice compare with the texture of the voice you use when talking to other people?

How does this voice compare with the texture of the voice those who care about you use when they’re talking to you?