DAY 9: SENDING A MESSAGE TO OUR INNER CRITIC

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMUNICATE TO YOUR INNER CRITIC?

Write a letter to your inner critic in this space. Let it spill onto the page freely and then pick a sentence or more to put on a photo today!

DOES YOUR INNER CRITIC USUALLY SAY THE SAME THINGS TO YOU EACH TIME YOU TAKE A PHOTO? LET'S PONDER BUILDING OUR OWN VOICE AND PLAN OUT A RESPONSE FOR NEXT TIME IT SPEAKS UP!

Sometimes when we are outside of the moment of seeing the photo that we took and having our inner critic rise up, it can be a bit easier to take a step back and notice what it says to us. What are the common themes. And what...outside of the moment...would be helpful to say in response? What would you respond if a dear friend said that about themselves? What would you want to remind them of in that moment? How can you remind yourself of your worthiness and that you are enough throughout this selfie journey?

June 9, 2022

To my #MonkeyMind,

I wanted to share with you how I feel about our #relationship, because how it’s been going isn’t working for me anymore. Even though you make it impossible to do sometimes, deep down I do #care about myself and I feel you do too. So that’s why I need you to understand that when you #criticize me, it hurts so much. Especially when your #nagging thoughts turn towards self hatred and self loathing.

I wanted to share with you that when you criticize me, it hurts.

When you say “Why do you even bother trying, you’ll just fuck it up like you always do!” it eats away at my #confidence.

When you say “Steve, you’re a fucking loser!” it feels like a #slap to the face.

When you #scream “I hate myself so much!” it tears at the very fibre of my being.

I’m tired of feeling the dread inside my mind that’s accelerated by you whenever I do something wrong, like sleeping in too late or not finishing something on time.

I’m tired of you encouraging me to eat away my sorrows by #devouring the absolute worst foods I can find.

I’m tired of you egging me on, to the point where I start hitting myself whenever I get really frustrated with something.

And when you see my prescription pill bottle in my hand, even though you say nothing, I want you to know how I feel you wanting to see me down the entire bottle like they were M&M candies. That hurts most of all.

So I’m going to tell you to #STOP whenever you start in on me negatively. I’m going to tell you to be kinder and gentler with me every time you want to bring me down.

We would never say or do these awful kinds of things with others - we cherish and care for others deeply and it’s time to give that same care to ourselves. I know that if we can do that we will take one step towards living a longer and more fulfilling life.

Love,

Steven

160/365.

#beyourownbeloved #beyourownbeloved💖 #depressionhelp #depressionawareness #startingover #selflove #selflovejourney #selflove #dailyselfie #dailywriting #subvertedselfies #subvertedselfie #art #photography #photo #selfloveisnotselfish #sad #depressed

This image was originally posted to Instagram and Flickr.

Today’s photo prompt and reflective journaling questions for today was a part of the BE YOUR OWN BELOVED photo workshop challenge which is run several times throughout the year by photographer VIVIENNE McMASTER. It’s well worth signing up for, and doing alongside other participants. Note that there’s no requirement to share your photos outside of the group. You don’t even have to share the writing reflections with the group, let alone publicly as I do. It’s a very supportive and private safe space that McMaster provides.

@beyouroewnbeloved @beyourownbelovedportraits