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Hi Skeleton Bob,

The pain Inner Critic activity causes --as well as the confusion it causes, is important to me, so I am coming back to this with more input.

Here is a basic formula for disengaging from the superego (Inner Critic) attacks.

-Identify the attack, from the viewpoint of the attacker:

changes to
"You are useless." So you understand it as an attack coming from the other, not you.

-Formulate a response which attempts to neither defend or argue, but instead asserts your right to decide what you are, rather than be told. for example:
"I am useless as hell, and I love it, so f**k off!"
or "I am useful enough for me, so back off!"
or, my favorite, which I take some credit (in my own mind!) for "inventing:" "I'm useless enough for me, so back off!"

-Repeat the phrase out loud 3 times, voice raised.

-Sense into body to notice change to spaciousness, relief, or other somatic changes, or not. If another attack arises, repeat as above. You need body feedback in order to assess whether your disengagement worked.

-You will never convince the Inner Critic that you're right. Your disengaging statements don't have to make sense. They simply disrupt an old, embedded inner relationship. You will never kill off the Inner Critic, but your understanding and relationship to it change in time.

Over time, simply your awareness dissolves the attacks because you know that the critic voice is repetitive, primitive, not attuned and is a distraction. Just knowing it has no value or power takes away the power. But most folks have to start this with the above exercises.

"Disengaging from the Inner Critic" as I am describing uses your life force to assert your independence from conditioning, and to become more yourself in the moment. It is creating inner boundaries. Using outrage or anger is part of what is needed. It also helps tremendously in outer boundaries and relationships. Much of who we see others as is actually projected superego activity.

Try this practice twice a day for two weeks and report back, if you're inspired!

Andy B