I’ve been on a massive learning curve since starting my business. Here I am feeling mastery in my craft as a facilitator and leadership coach, but totally out of my depth in running my own business.

Reflecting on 12 years of my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve come a long way. But our brains are wired to focus primarily on the negative—our limbic system is programmed to protect us, so we constantly identify what needs improvement. With that comes the relentless voice of our inner critic, and over time, our self-esteem and confidence get eroded.

I just caught myself in this pattern again and realised how much it harms me. It takes courage and strength to focus on the great things that we have achieved and believe that we are enough.

Apply: Here are the tools that keep me out of my limbic system’s negative focus trap:

• Journal daily to watch my thoughts
• Remember what I’ve already achieved
• Daily gratitude practice
• Quarterly “Wheel of Life” reflection exercise
  

This morning, I completed my quarterly assessment and was filled with pride to see that seven parts of my life scored 8-10, with only one area needing attention. Now I can focus on that one area without feeling bad because I’ve reminded myself how far I’ve come.

What do you do to stay above the voice of your inner critic?

I’d love to hear your strategies.