Noticing your inner critic

Most people have an inner critic: a voice that says "You are going to embarrass yourself", "Everyone is better than you" or "You only got in by luck". It often sounds like a parent, a teacher or a version of yourself at your worst. The first step is noticing it, because the critic works best when you do not realise it is talking.

For one week, write down what it says, especially before and after something important. You will see that it repeats the same few lines. Some people give it a name, which makes it easier to recognise.