I have talked in the past about how if I were to speak to my friends in the way I speak to myself.....I soon would have no friends, and I think we all know this tendency to be more harsh with ourselves than we would be with others. This week we will be looking at some self care tools and ways to bring a kinder attitude to ourselves, cultivating a gentle tone to our inner voice and being patient with where we struggle instead of being critical. 

I describe this inner narrative as 'radio me', this voice in our head that is constantly commenting, criticising and giving opinions. What if instead of believing this voice I see it as a commentary on the present moment......attempting to solidify a sense of self around an experince that in itself is transient, changing and ephemeral. If I shift from believing that there is this solid 'me' that is a problem to be fixed and instead see a flow and process that can be witnessed, held and loved then it is easier to be with these ever changing vicissitudes of life. 
One simple way to challenge this 'radio me' is to recognise the repeating stories it tells. We can then name the stories, or say to ourselves "it's just a story". Notice how often a repeating theme plays out. Notice this tendency to solidify around this familiar narrative. Another way is to give a name to the inner voice and then jockingly talk to it as it comes in with its criticism. One friend called his inner critic Nanette and used to say "not now Nanette" as this voice started its critical monologue. 

Instead of 'taking birth' as this identity, I can cultivate an attitude of welcoming allowing and being curious about the felt sense in my body connected to this constantly changing experince as it arises in the present moment space of awareness. As there is a shift into this position of "being the knowing" there can be a softening, relaxing and freeing from the narrowness of the narrative.  We are no longer a fixed entity that is either getting it right or wrong, and instead are in a state of flow. We become the curious participant observer rather than the critical onlooker.