UPBUILDING THE SELF

Finding the Bait of the Inner Critic

The inner critic is commonly thought of as the voice in our head that negatively judges and demeans us. This is true, but it is also has another job that is rarely spoken about. In this episode, Hari Prasada, Michael, and Rasanath do a deep dive into the strategies and nuances of our inner critics. They address the damage that can be done by taking the inner critic too seriously, how our relationships with our inner critics mirror abusive relationships, and how our addictive personalities play a role. Finally, they leave us with strategies to break free of the games that our inner critics constantly get us to play.

Podcast Hosts: Hari Prasada, Michael and Rasanath

Highlights

  • [2:00] What is the inner critic and how the ego fits in

  • [6:40] The perpetual feeling of “not-enoughness” that comes from listening to the inner critic

  • [10:00] Why the inner critic gives good grades sometimes

  • [18:00] The deceptiveness of the inner critic

  • [24:50] The truth that the inner critic is tapping into

  • [36:00] The Bhagavad-Gita

  • [36:10] How to release yourself from the game of the inner critic

  • [43:20] Final thoughts

Quotes

  • "The ego employs the inner critic to make us do what it wants so that we can have a sense of self." - Hari Prasada.

  • "The whole thing with the inner critic is to keep you in the game for life. It's a life sentence." - Hari Prasada.

  • "I don't celebrate when I don't see my ego. I sound the alarm because it doesn't mean it has disappeared. It means it's running me, and I can't see it." - Hari Prasada.

  • "We often walk around thinking, oh, I'm so hard on myself. And we believe that. But we discover it's not the real me; it's the inner critic." - Michael.

  • "At a certain point in time, it's tough for me to figure out what's true because I get the pluses, and then suddenly, the same thing (the inner critic) that gave me the pluses treats me like garbage." - Rasanath.

  • "The inner critic actually gets its authority by giving us pluses. That's how it gets us in the game." - Michael.

For first timers, welcome to Upbuilding the Self

About the podcast: Two former monks, a former startup founder and CEO, and a former equity derivatives trader dive into how to be our best selves, free from the ego. Our egos are the identities we create for ourselves and wish the world to validate, but when we are not seen as we want to be, we feel insecure. This podcast lives at the intersection of leadership and spirituality. It will help you understand your ego and shed light on your inner world so that you can act with greater clarity, compassion, and the freedom to be your best self.