Dethrone Your Inner Critic with Psychotherapist Joanna Kleinman

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/jyjkdj/finaljaonna2_-_6_29_21_1046_AMaxuq2.mp3

EPISODE SUMMARY:

As a licensed psychotherapist and author of Dethroning Your Inner Critic, Joanna Kleinman is a life coach using her skills to help people combat their inner critic and live in the moment. In today’s episode, we sat down with Joanna to discuss our inner critics, the M.I.N.D method, how to unhook from your inner critic, and how to create a relationship with yourself during midlife. First, we asked Joanna what exactly our inner critic is, and she explained that as people, we all have a voice in our head that speaks to our stress. From the moment we wake up till the moment we fall asleep, our inner critic has us worrying not only with self-deprecating thoughts but also making us panic about not doing or achieving enough. Most people, especially women, find it hard to differentiate between who they are and who their critical, intrusive thoughts tell them they need to be. Due to this, it can be hard to ignore our own inner critic. We then asked Joanna about her method, the M.I.N.D method and what its purpose is. She told us that the M.I.N.D method is meant to help us tune into the calm and peace within ourselves rather than letting ourselves be ruled by our panicked inner critic.

There are four steps to this method: meet your inner critic, investigate the indicative signs, neutralize the never-ending message, and design your life. When asked about the importance of facing your fear, Joanna spoke on fear itself and how it affects our bodies. When we’re stressed, our body releases hormones, forcing us into fight or flight mode as a form of survival. Our inner critic often causes these stress situations to occur, and without learning how to calm ourselves, our bodies remain in a panicked state. Being constantly on edge can affect us spiritually, emotionally and physically, so it’s important to learn balance. Joanna also mentioned that some of the most successful people are unhappy, and that this is due to them not knowing how to ignore their inner critic. They’re so critical of themselves that they work too much, resulting in dissatisfaction from being constantly paranoid. In Joanna’s book, Dethroning Your Inner Critic, she mentions the concept of people becoming different forms of misses. She explained to us that we are so externally focused on others that we become people pleasers. “Miss Wishy Washy”, “Miss Indecisive”, “Miss People Pleaser”; people turn into these different forms of misses in order to try and satisfy others. According to Joanna, we become paralyzed because we refuse to acknowledge our own desires. However, it is important to listen to ourselves and set boundaries, for if someone never learns to say “no” to others, it can eventually lead to them feeling resentment for other people.

We then talked about how to unhook from your inner critic, and Joanna emphasized that it is an ongoing practice. The first step is to see and become familiarized with your own inner critic. By acknowledging the voice when you’re calm, you can identify it faster and keep yourself from getting triggered. Finally, we asked Joanna how to create a relationship with yourself in midlife, and she said that it is important for midlife women to discover their own triggers. It is also important for them to accept that they cannot control others and their decisions, for by doing so, they can become more at peace with themselves and not be controlled by their inner critic. She also emphasized that creating a relationship with yourself in midlife takes practice, and step by step, one should step outside of their comfort zone.

Joanna Kleinman

Joanna Kleinman is a licensed psychotherapist, Amazon #1 international best selling author of Dethroning Your Inner Critic, life and corporate coach, podcast host of The Dethroning Your Inner Critic podcast, and public speaker. She is also the creator of The M.I.N.D Method™, a time tested, proven system that brings together practical psychology, neuroscience and the power of intention to discover who you are separate from the critical voice in your mind. She considers herself to be an unconventional therapist and is driven by the conviction that the most powerful life you can live is when you know the difference between YOU and your Inner Critic. With over 25 years experience, she has worked with corporations such as Cigna, Nestle, TD Bank, Provider Trust, Susan G. Komen, Lendlease, Campowerment, and Virtua Health Systems, and has transformed the lives of thousands of people, detailing how they can design a new future by rewiring the automatic way they think and act, and breaking the habit of giving energy and attention to their Inner Critic. Joanna Kleinman is a licensed psychotherapist, Amazon #1 international best selling author of Dethroning Your Inner Critic, life and corporate coach, podcast host of The Dethroning Your Inner Critic podcast, and public speaker. She is also the creator of The M.I.N.D Method™, a time tested, proven system that brings together practical psychology, neuroscience and the power of intention to discover who you are separate from the critical voice in your mind. She considers herself to be an unconventional therapist and is driven by the conviction that the most powerful life you can live is when you know the difference between YOU and your Inner Critic. With over 25 years experience, she has worked with corporations such as Cigna, Nestle, TD Bank, Provider Trust, Susan G. Komen, Lendlease, Campowerment, and Virtua Health Systems, and has transformed the lives of thousands of people, detailing how they can design a new future by rewiring the automatic way they think and act, and breaking the habit of giving energy and attention to their Inner Critic.