Last week I was talking with a client that is extremely talented, produces excellent results and is creative and intelligent.

They can be viewed as a real high achiever, although their humility and modest nature does not always recognise this.

They confided in me that they are extremely hard on themself when they make a mistake and constantly strive for perfection.

They have a big inner critic and when it is rampant they can procrastinate over decisions for fear of making a mistake/fear of failure.

They told me they would like to reduce the volume and impact of the inner critic, as it has a negative influence on their happiness levels and general enjoyment of life.

We are now working on a variety of strategies including viewing mistakes as lessons and opportunities to grow. They are seeking to convert the inner critic into an inner coach that supports and encourages rather than criticises and chastises them.

Another approach they are following is to create an inner voice that reminds them of their outstanding strengths, abilities, accomplishments and the significant potential that they possess. This will help them to have a more balanced approach to their personal review of their performance and progress.

As part of our work together, I shared “The Ten Rules for Being Human” by Dr Cherie Carter-Scott which is featured in the book “If life is a game, these are the rules.”

I have included these below and I hope you enjoy reading them and find them useful.

Rule One – You will receive a body.

You may love it or hate it, but it will be yours for the duration of your life on Earth.

Rule Two – You will be presented with lessons.

You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called “life”. Each day in this school you will have the opportunity to learn lessons. You may like the lessons or hate them, but you have designed them as part of your curriculum.

Rule Three – There are no mistakes, only lessons.

Growth is a process of experimentation, a series of trials, errors and occasional victories. The failed experiments are as much as a part of the process as the experiments that work.

Rule Four – The lesson is repeated until learned.

Lessons will be repeated to you in various forms until you have learned them. When you have learned them, you can go on to the next lesson.

Rule Five – Learning does not end.

There is no part of life that does not contain lessons. If you are alive, there are lessons to be learned.

Rule Six – “There” is no better than “here”.

When your “there” has become “here” you will simply obtain another “there” that will look better to you than your present “here”.

Rule Seven – Others are only mirrors of you.

You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself.

Rule Eight – What you make of your life is up to you.

You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you.

Rule Nine – Your answers lie inside of you.

All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.

Rule Ten – You will forget all this at birth.

You can remember it if you want by unravelling the double helix of inner-knowing.

This week why not think if you can you be kinder to yourself? Consider if reducing the volume of your inner critic would increase your happiness and enjoyment of life.

This week’s quotation:

“I have learned more from my mistakes than my successes.” Sir Humphrey Davy

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk