The Critic :: Soulscape insights
What does it mean to face the critic?
We all have a critic. The critic is what keeps us with in “safe” limits.That sounds great until we have a growth spurt.I can’t do that because.... Because WHY?You will be too loud....Too big...Too full of yourself?What what would it be like to be really FULL OF YOURSELF?
Marion Williamson said it so well-“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” [----from A Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson.]
The critic keeps us from manifesting the glory of our light in the world.
How do we recognize the critic?Knowing when the critic is present when some deep seeded limiting beliefs emerge can be hard. The critic can be slippery! and can look like this: You are happily going along, painting, writing, feeling Full of your self! Then it starts... hmm maybe it’s time for a cup of tea, a snack, wondering what is happening to the weather right now. Then you walk away ... and the critic wins.
You walk away and take the pressure off of what might be a personal moment of growth; the critic survives, and stops the shell from cracking opening a bit more.
Sometime the critic shows up as:Oh I should just stay were I am. Life is ok why try to change it?My job [isn't so] bad -- [that's why they call it work!] and it pays the bills.Why dream a big dream that just might not pan out -- I will retire in say 25 years. I can do what I love then! I'll keep myself small and under the radar until then.
And so our bodies respond ...
Do you feel the [your] energy deflating?
Do you feel your breath slowing down?
Your blood stilling to a weak pulse?
The light in your eyes dimming?
We die a slow death with the critic -- we put it down to age, or a change in our life circumstances. And before you know it you have learned to not notice the color of the leaves, the song of the birds, the cry in your heart.
The catalyst for change has been neatly tucked away in the dusty box on the top shelf behind a book.
Critic 1 - You 0
But then one day a photo or painting or poem catches your attention -- your breath quickens and your eyes start to shine and YOUR CREATIVE VITAL ENERGY starts to call you out into the living again.
The critic keeps you small and safe but that is not how we came into this life. We are bright shiny spirits in human form here to enjoy the gifts of being in BODY.No matter how you bring it out: Dance,painting, singing, communing in nature. We are here to grow, shine and explore this wonderful life.
The first step is the recognize the critic.Know that it has kept you safe, and it is part of you and your growth evolution. When you see the critic, bow to it, then put it on the shelf and move forward.
You can find creative freedom and energy that comes with knowing your heart and loving your life in my very soon to be released book Painting the Landscape of Your Soul: http://www.daminicelebre.com/soul-landscape