Do people tell you they really like you, or they think you are great at what you do - but still inside you don't think you are 'enough?'

Do you criticize yourself to try and motivate yourself, but wind up stressed and no closer to success?

Here's the irony: You work so hard for other people to think well of you, and once they do you don't even accept their compliments.

You work so hard to achieve progress, and once you do, you just set the bar higher and keep working harder. That doesn't bring much enjoyment or peace of mind; just more hard work.

Get over your critical inner voice so you can stop the hammering inside your own head and start being your own champion.

Try this instead:

Be tougher on yourself. Tougher? Yes. ;-)

When you focus on falling short and what you did wrong, you are dwelling. Dwelling is the easy way out; it's just talking, not action. 

You consider yourself a hard worker? Great, work hard at this: Learn from situations by asking questions and acting on the answers.

Let's take an example: Is there someone you are comparing yourself to who is more successful?

1) Is that person making good use of their unique talents? Probably.  Are you?

2) Do you have a gut feeling you should be doing something differently but haven't acted on it? Why not?

3) Have you been too overwhelmed to pay attention to improvement? If you agree with your current priorities, there is no excuse to beat yourself up. If not, shift priorities so you are freed up to focus on what's most important.

4) Has that more successful person worked smarter or procrastinated less? What can you do to be more efficient and take action?

5) Does that person have a written articulation of what 'enough' means to them? In the absence of a clear idea of what is 'good enough,' you will always perceive yourself as falling short. 

6) What is the tone that person uses to talk to him or herself (and the people around them?) How can you make a soundtrack your mental iPod that energizes you?

Don't beat yourself up and deprive yourself of an opportunity to learn. The 'easy' way is to dwell, the 'hard' way is to make it better.

Let me make the 'hard' way EASY for you. In my online interactive Confidence at the Core training starting in early April, you will get a toolkit to get rid of that negative voice. You CAN have the confidence to have the success you've imagined personally and professionally. Think YOU can't get rid of that negative voice in 5 weeks? Read this and see for yourself!