Im a firm believer that we all have to think SOMETHING. I cant just switch my mind off and not think about anything. I try to get into the habit of re placing the chatterbox mentality ( Susan Jeffers phrase ) with something else.

Disaster world wide and personal does happen,ive got into te habit of seeing it and knowing its there ( i dont want to live in cloud cookoo land ) and then switching my thoughts to something positive. I think about anything thats more or less the diametric opposite of what the bad situaton is. If im due to pay out a big invoice i imagine myself tooloing around in a megayacht or a Ferrari.

After all your minds going to be processing something anyway,swop it for something better.

Graham

Something can only distract us if we allow it to and that includes that inner critic which often proves to be the biggest distraction of all.

The easiest way I've found to quiet that inner critic is to observe it and give it a few minutes to have it's say. By doing this I find it actually becomes quiet for a while allowing me to focus on what needs to be done.

I have found this more effective than trying to get rid of that inner critic because it's not struggling any longer to be heard. When we merely try to eliminate it, I think it goes into battle mode and struggles for survival becoming more of a hindrance.

the critical voice is an effect of a cause, it maybe helpful to nonjudgementally explore it's origin/s,
if it can't float (have sound reason/s for it being a thought form),
will it away, and refocus on what part of the plan is working for you.

The more I focus on what I am doing when I am doing it (being in the moment or NOW) there tends to be less negative chatter or attention to critical thoughts. When they do happen to appear in my mind I say CANCEL three times & think the exact opposite of that critical thought...then I go into Abraham's "Wouldn't it be nice if...." To bring my energy back into alignment. I just allow myself to regain alignment without resistance.

Give it a try! You can do it! :)

I first recognize and say hello to my critical voice. Though I know now that it exists and I do not deny it, I can then "ignore" it. Kind of like you know the ground is there but you do not give it much thought.

Michael