Monday Moment: Don’t Let the Critic Have the Last Word

In this Monday Moment, Tania reflects on the inner critic that often appears right after we follow inspiration. When we share something vulnerable or try something new, self-doubt can get loud. But what if the critic doesn’t get the final say? A short reflection on creativity, courage, and trusting the spark instead of letting fear and perfectionism run the show.

Transcript

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Happy Monday moment friends. Recently I posted a Monday moment episode that I wasn't over the moon about. It was fine. It was honest, but not extraordinary, and almost immediately after I hit publish, I could feel that old voice warming up. That was just okay. That wasn't great. You've done better. It's almost predictable at this point. When I follow an idea that feels alive, that feels juicy. Whenever I share something vulnerable, whenever I say yes to the nudge to create, that critic shows up right on cue, and it's funny how I'm always tempted to listen to it. In this case, a part of me was saying, you know, maybe you should polish this a little more. Maybe you should wait until you have a better, stronger idea. But I went ahead and I posted it anyway. And then a close friend commented, she said, the timing of your post is uncanny. Always just what I need exactly when I need it. And I laughed out loud because the episode I was quietly critiquing was the one she said she needed, and it hit me. Our job isn't to perfect the spark or question the inspiration. Our job is to follow it. We don't always know who an idea is meant to serve. Sometimes it's for us, sometimes it's for someone else. Often it's both. But if we let the old wiring, the part of us that's trained for safety approval control, have the final say, we may never release the thing that we were meant to share or create. One small idea can be a catalyst. One honest share can shift someone's nervous system. One sentence can be the divine spark that starts momentum in an area that really matters. And here's the thing. We don't get to decide in advance which ones those will be, which granted is really hard for the one who loves to be in control. And yes, the critic may show up when you choose to trust and do it anyway, but I would suggest that this voice is just part of us that is wired for safety, not the part wired for purpose. And maybe the work isn't eliminating that voice. Maybe it's choosing not to let it make the final call. Because when you follow the nudge, when you honor the idea, when you release the spark, you don't just serve yourself, you serve something bigger. So if there's something in you that feels alive, that's pulling your attention, a thought, a project. A conversation. You've been avoiding, an idea that keeps tapping you on the shoulder. Maybe your job isn't to evaluate it to death. Maybe your job is simply to trust it. Obviously, I'm learning this in real time. Yes, I am a work in progress and I'm standing with you. Have a good one. Cheers.