You’ve been home for two hours. You’ve procrastinated enough. Finally you sit at your desk. You place your fingers on the keyboard and………………. NOTHING! NOTHING comes out of your finger tips! Defeated again… the idea is stupid, no one will get it!

Your Inner Critic appears – right on cue:

“What am I going to write?”
“No one is going to read this.”
“This is so HARD!! ”
“Why don’t the words come out?”
“I’m NEVER going to finish this.”

How often does this happen? You sit down with your “inspiration” and nothing comes out. You want to be an expert in your field, not an expert in criticizing anything and everything about yourself, what you write or do not write. The criticism goes on and on and on…

BUT WAIT… You really do want to write. You have something important to share. This IS what you are passionate about! This IS what you WANT to do….. then WHY is it so difficult?

The reason is actually quite simple. Your INNER CRITIC has his/her hands on you…. and your Inner Critic is keeping you from writing! “WHY?” You ask. Here’s the quick answer: your Inner Critic is doing their job! Your Inner Critic is doing a PHENOMENAL job at criticizing you and your actions. This is what your Inner Critic was designed to do.

How might your writing be different if your Inner Critic transformed into your RAVING WRITING FAN?
Just imagine, you’ll be able to: get your inner thoughts out into the world easily, trust your writing is great, commit and meet your deadlines – you know you can write, so you just do it and enjoy it.

Would you like to make that happen right now? Below are 5 secrets that will help your Inner Critic Turn into Your Raving Writing Fan……

1) Thank your Inner Critic for doing a PHENOMENAL job.

Thank your Inner Critic for being critical, for pointing out when it’s not perfect, for knowing when to throw something away. You can say it in your head, you can say it out loud…… thank your Inner Critic for doing a really great job!

2) Appreciate your Inner Critic for doing its job for ALL of these years.

All these years your Inner Critic has been criticizing you, but you are successful. You have a great job, you are passionate about your teachings. Your Inner Critic has HELPED you get to where you are! Appreciate how far you’ve come with the help of your Inner Critic.

3) Understand that the positive intent behind your Inner Critic’s behavior is to keep you safe:

a. Are you afraid it won’t be PERFECT?
b. Is your message too big?
c. Is it scary to be vulnerable with people?
d. Are you afraid you’ll be criticized by others?
e. It won’t be good enough?
f. They won’t like it.

Begin to understand the reason why the Inner Critic criticizes to keep you safe, keep you happy and keep you from screwing up. Begin to understand that even though it may not feel like it, your Inner Critic is actually on your side, keeping you safe and protected.

4) TALK to your Inner Critic, Give a voice to your Inner Critic and LISTEN to what it has to say:

a. What is your Inner Critics name?
b. When was your Inner Critic created?
c. Does your Inner Critic know why it was created?
d. What does your Inner Critic want for you?

Next time you sit down at your computer and begin to write and nothing comes out… TALK to your inner critic. Get curious and give your Inner Critic a voice!

5) Find out what conditions your Inner Critic may need to be able to support you.

What needs to happen in order for your Inner Critic to support your writing process? Do you need to write at the same time every day? Do you need to journal and talk to your Inner Critic for 10 minutes before you write your next chapter? Does your Inner Critic need a specific time line? Discover what rules or conditions your Inner Critic must have met to support you.

My Inner Critic’s name is Stacy. Here’s what she had to say when I was writing this article for you:

Melissa: Stacy I really feel you holding me back, what is going on?

Inner Critic Stacy: Well for one this is too much responsibility, too may people are going to read this. I can’t have you putting yourself out there like that.

Melissa: You know this is important to me, is there anything that you need to feel comfortable with me writing this article?

Inner Critic Stacy: Yeah for sure, I need you to write it all out, then I need you to clean it up, make it GREAT (I’ll help) then you need to have 3 people read it and give feedback BEFORE you can hand it in!

Melissa: That’s great, anything else?

Inner Critic Stacy: YES you need to have this completed three weeks before it is due!

Melissa: Okay I will agree to that.

Inner Critic Stacy: Okay then I’m okay if we start writing.

The key is to build a relationship with your Inner Critic. Your Inner Critic is here to serve you, keep you save, happy and whole. Your Inner Critic is protective and most likely was created when you were a young child. The way it protects you now may no longer serve you and your relationship may need to change. Turning your Inner Critic into your raving fan is a process. Like any successful healthy relationship you must put effort, patience and love into it. Instead of beating up your Inner Critic start praising and appreciating what they do for you.

You never know what might flow out of your finger tips.

If you’d like to learn more about you and your inner critic and how you Turn Your Inner Critic Into Your Raving Fan check out more information at www.MelissaRisdon.com you can also visit www.MelissaRisdonFan.com.

Now you know the difference it will make to have your POWERFUL Inner Critic as your Raving Writing Fan – what are you going to do now – write?