Day 5 of the Write Tribe Festival of Words already! I can’t believe how fast the days are flying past. Today’s prompt: Write a letter. So I decided to share with you a letter to my inner critic that I wrote a few years ago.
A Letter To My Inner Critic
I have something to tell you, my inner critic -I have given you a name. I call you Cassius – after the character in Shakespeare’s, Julius Caesar. Why? Because Cassius had a major role in getting Brutus to kill Caesar. That’s exactly the role you’ve been playing in my life. You keep encouraging me to kill my creativity.
You, Cassius, are insidious, subtle and wily. You find various ways of telling me that I’m not good enough a writer. You creep into my mind and make me compare myself to others.
Over the years, it’s not just my writing you’ve attacked, but my choices, my personality and my self-esteem. You’ve got your ever-willing workers who are happy to convey your messages to me. Someone subtly questioning my behaviour, another one questioning my choices, the third telling me to get my head out of the clouds.
But your biggest weapon, that works almost every time with someone like me, is to get another person to say they need me. Off I go to ‘rescue’ them, always putting their need before my own. Putting their gifts, before mine. To paraphrase Julia Cameron, I have ‘squandered my own creative energies by investing disproportionately in the lives, hopes, dreams and plans of others’.
Not anymore, Cassius. You can kick and scream, throw a tantrum and tell me I’m selfish. I’ll just cock a snook at you and go on my merry creative way. I’ve given into you and your vassals for too long.
It’s time to claim my mojo back. It’s time for me to nurture my creative spirit.
I have something to tell you, Cassius: Be gone!
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Surbhi says
August 10, 2017 at 3:24 pmSelf-doubt is the destroyer of selfconfidence at a larger extent. It’s not easy to overcome that fear. Loved reading your post. So apt!
Manveen Dua says
August 9, 2017 at 10:31 pmThe inner voice is often the harbinger of progressive actions. It’s the forerunner of your true potential often propelling you to levels, you couldn’t imagine…I would say, fuel it.
Esha says
August 9, 2017 at 3:26 pmThat voice in the head can be pretty stubborn at times, but it needs to be silenced! Wish we could all do it more often!
Sheethalsusan says
August 9, 2017 at 1:56 pm“Be gone! Just be gone and leave the rest to you.”
Something I have started telling to my inner critic.
Geethica Mehra says
August 9, 2017 at 12:48 pmWhen you are determined to go your way then there’s no stopping. Be firm and go ahead.
Balaka Basu says
August 9, 2017 at 12:41 pmI too need to kick out Cassius..doing me no good..great take on the prompt.
Kala Ravi says
August 9, 2017 at 11:43 amWay to go! Claim that mojo back! Off with you traitorous Cassius!
upasna says
August 9, 2017 at 11:40 amInner critic got a kick on the butt…A nice letter.
Anamika Agnihotri says
August 9, 2017 at 11:12 amThis might be the voice inside me too, often filling me with doubts about my writing. It gets difficult to shush it somedays.
Amrita says
August 9, 2017 at 10:37 amIt does stop and block our creativity.You are very right.‘…..squandered my own creative energies by investing disproportionately in the lives, hopes, dreams, and plans of others’.This is like been there done that, still not learning .need a brain reprogramming!
akshata ram says
August 9, 2017 at 8:54 amIts a an apt one Corrnie. Its upto us to tame the inner critic or let him owe power us. The inner critic can be used effectively its important to be cognizant of the fact that it may supersede us at times and that shouldn’t be allowed
Modern Gypsy says
August 9, 2017 at 8:13 amOur inner critics can really put us in a tizzy! Naming them and knowing when they rear up their heads really helps us to deal with them!
Apeksha Rao says
August 9, 2017 at 7:48 amYay to you Corinne! Kick that Cassius in the butt. Very well written.
Menaka Bharathi says
August 9, 2017 at 7:24 amHow rightly and crisply told to the inner self, I have strong belief that the inner self is the one that guides you through and need to be dealt with strictly to be positive..
Team MocktailMommies says
August 9, 2017 at 6:53 amCorinne… we thought on the same lines. What a coincidence! My entry today is also a letter to the voice in my head!
I feel this voice, this critique inside is really a great personality… Something like a twin who is not exactly the same!
Your letter is really breathing your heart!
– Anagha from Team MocktailMommies
https://mocktailmommies.blogspot.com
Bellybytes says
August 9, 2017 at 4:45 amThat was a strong message if there was one ! I loved the mature words and crisp style .
Aesha Shah says
August 9, 2017 at 12:21 amThis is the post apt today as we reach the 5th Day of The Festival Of Words.
Shilpa Garg says
August 9, 2017 at 12:11 amThe Cassius in my head is pretty strong too. I hope it goes away for a long vacation!
Bhavya says
August 9, 2017 at 12:10 amThis is my third attempt at leaving a comment on this post.
“I remember this letter Corinne. It spoke to me then, it speaks to me now.”
Yeah. That was what I wanted to say 😛
Shalini R. says
August 9, 2017 at 12:09 amNow, that’s the spirit, Corinne! Let’s kick Cassius hard! 🙂 Loved your letter!
Zainab says
August 9, 2017 at 12:07 amCassius- better be gone! I like the name though and the reason behind it 🙂
Ramya says
August 9, 2017 at 12:06 amHa ha.. such a relief to say the negativity to stay away from life. Nice letter Corinne.
Anubhuti says
August 9, 2017 at 12:09 amI so wish I could do that everyday !!