I have found over the years that no one in the world is more critical of me than me. It always seems that internally we are judging and talking to ourselves more harshly than the feedback we get from others. My inner critic often demands perfection, which would cause me to edit, re-do, and doubt my original efforts. Even though I always get tons of positive feedback from others, my inner critic can pick anything that I do apart in seconds.

Are you your own worst critic?

What makes us tear our own selves down with internal criticism?

One of the reasons is poor self-image. If we do not see ourselves as worth praise or encouragement then the inner critic will take over. Negative self-talk and lack of positive self-esteem fuels our internal critic opening up opportunities for self-doubt to creep in.

After all, isn’t that, what our inner critic really is? Isn’t it all of our self-doubt and insecurities?

There is good news for those of us that fall victim to our own harsh criticism. Through changing our internal dialogue to positive self-talk and by examining how we view ourselves. Affirmations are a great way to improve your self-esteem and to help change your own internal dialogue, especially if it is filled with criticism.

Another major step is learning how to just give yourself a break! No one is perfect. If that is what your inner critic is demanding, is not realistic. Perfection is an abstract ideal that is not real.

Focus on the positives things about you and that are in your life. Use these positives as a counter measure against negative self-talk and inner criticism.

I still struggle with my inner critic at times, but as I apply better self-care, giving myself a break, and affirmations; I find that I am able to keep that annoying critic at bay letting my inner self receive encouragement and praise.

© Copyright 2006 Tonya Ramsey

I was sent this wonderful story and wanted to share it with you all. ~ Tonya

An elderly Cherokee Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life . . .

He said to them, “A fight is going on inside me, it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One wolf is evil—he is fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, competition, superiority, and ego.

The other is good —he is joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.

This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too.”

They thought about it for a minute, and then one child asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win, Grandfather?”

The Elder simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Ask yourself, which wolf are you feeding?

I was sent this by a really good friend and being a mother of a little 21 month old boy, I find this to be so true! Enjoy!! ~ Tonya

(I am unsure of the author, but definitely someone that has a toddler!)

Toddler’s Creed

If I want it, IT’S MINE

If I give it to you and change my mind, IT’S MINE

If I can take it away from you, IT’S MINE

If I had it a little while ago, IT’S MINE

It it’s mine, it will never belong to anyone else, no matter what.

If we are building something together, all the pieces are MINE.

If it looks like mine, IT’S MINE!!!!!!!!!

Our family has had two beautiful additions this summer.  Two of my cousins a month apart welcomed new members to their families.  A little girl named Jillian (born in June) and a little boy named Brayden (born in July).

There is something about babies that brings people together.  It is a comforting welcome wagon of family and friends greeting these new little lives into the world.

It makes me think as we add these two little ones to our family tree.  What they will see in their lives, what endless possibilities there will be for them, and what an awesome responsibility it is to help these two new souls learn what they need, to become responsible, kindhearted adults.

My cousins and I now take our place in our family as parents, teachers, and caregivers of the future.  A welcomed responsibility as we start and nurture our own families, start new traditions and carry on with the old traditions.  Our parents now take on the new role of grandparents.

Years from now, the torch will be passed again to our children as we welcome their babies into our family.

Life is an unending cycle as we pass from one season to the next.  Cherish every moment and welcome the changes that come with life.

Welcome to our family, our lives, and our future Jillian and Brayden!!!

As I walked through the zoo with my son for the first time, a whole new world opened up to me, that I once knew, but had faded away as I grew up.

As parents we get the unique opportunity to look at with “new” eyes at the world. We have a chance to reawaken our own inner child and rediscover the basics of life again.

Allow yourself to play.  Let your child open up a world that has been lost to you.

I, myself have rediscovered how good pretend food tastes, and the lost art of being silly.

Give it a try!  It will lessen the tendentious that sometimes comes with being an adult.

It was a special 4th of July for our family, it was the first time that my son Logan got to see fireworks. The whole day was in anticipation of nightfall and the fireworks that are synonymous with Independence Day.

Among the fireworks, cookouts, picnics, and games, it is easy to forget the true reason that we are celebrating…our freedom.

Freedom is something that most of us take for granted. They say that you do not appreciate something until it is gone. We have such great freedoms in the country that others simply do not have. Imagine not having the freedom to say what you want, pray how you want, or not being able to make the choices that you want.

The fact is that our freedom was built from men and women that gave their lives fighting for the freedoms that we have today, whether it be on the battlefield, in the courtrooms, or on the streets.

Our freedom has given us many choices in our lives and the best way to honor those that have made our freedom possible is to make the best choices we can, to live the best life we can, and to teach our children that freedom has come at a price…it should not be taken for granted.