Don’t work with runners they’re to serious!
If you’re a runner I bet this title got your attention.
If you’re not a runner and you said a sassy ‘yep’ to yourself, hear me out I’m going somewhere with this. You don’t need to be a runner to read on.
So, this was some business advice I was given recently when I mentioned I’d love to start a Yoga for Runner’s class.
What happened next might (I’m hoping) turn out to be helpful for anyone who has ever had moments of feeling like they aren’t enough or has allowed the inner critic to win the day.
You do not have to be a runner to learn from what happened next. .
As the aforementioned words made contact with my ear drums there was a moment of slow motion where my inner self talk started to have a little chat.
It went a little something like this….
Inner voice - Oh someone I really respect just told me that runners take themselves to seriously. But I’m a runner.
Inner critic - DO NOT tell her you’re a runner. I’ve been trying to tell you that you’re not really a runner for years. This is the proof….
Inner voice - but I love running, it really helped me when I was grieving my dad.
Inner critic - yeah but your not very good at.
Inner voice - Ok, so I won’t tell her I’m a runner….
Inner critic - Good, you should also agree with her because you’re desperate for her to like you..
Inner voice - I am?
Inner critic - Of course you are, you want everyone to like you. It’s better if you pretend not to like running. Also can we talk about your hair today…….?
This was the point I said out loud ‘I’m a runner, and I actually really like other runners. So much, in fact that I want to start a Yoga for runners class!
Inner critic - What have you done, she can tell your not really a runner. Look at the way she looked at you. Why won’t you listen to me, I’m always right.
What followed was the obligatory look up and down, that signalled I was being judged on the way I looked and weather what I said was in fact true, it was obvious to me that someone who thinks that runners take themselves to seriously is very likely to think all runners should look a certain way.
This moment really highlighted how much yoga has given me.
I have been governed by my inner critic for most of my adult like, it even stopped me from starting yoga for years, it has prevented me from taking opportunities, speaking my mind at times and regrettably so much more!
Yoga gives us the chance to look inwards and really listen to that inner voice. Slowly it can become possible to recognise the different voices and start the process of untangling the ‘inner critic’ from the true self.
What is the inner critic? It’s the part of us that points out all the ways we’re failing and makes us feel that we’re ‘not good enough’, it can become a constant part of our inner narrative if we let it.
Until we know to look, sometimes we can mistake it for our own voice and that is when it can be tempting to keep yourself small; for example by staying in a job you’ve outgrown instead of going for that promotion your so ready for.
“If you hear a voice within you say, ‘you cannot paint’, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.”
Even Van Gogh had an Inner critic so we’re in good company.
Here are some ways to help identify and silence your inner critic..
Stream of consciousness journalling
Take a piece of paper and a pen and sit somewhere you feel safe and won’t be interrupted. Just let whatever comes into your head express itself on the page in front of you. When you feel finished put it away and comeback to it later in that day. Do you still feel that way? Which voice was speaking? Done regularly you can begin to spot when your inner voice is most likely to crop up.
Meditation
Come to stillness, close your eyes and breath or go for a technology free walk in nature. Check in with the quality of your breath and how the body is feeling. Allow yourself to be fully in your body and simply listen to what it’s trying to tell you.
Affirmations
If there are patterns in what your inner voice is telling you, then take a piece of paper make a note of your inner critic statements on one side of the paper and then on the other side write the opposite statement. Write some opposite statements on a post it note and stick it somewhere you spend time each day. Recite it to yourself 4/5 times each day, or when the thought comes up throughout the day.
Yoga
Of course this is on the list. Yoga will guide you to listen to that inner voice and recognise when the inner critic is getting to loud. (Usually around when the teacher asks you to do a pose you find hard.) When it happens, simply listen and label it as exactly what it is ‘just the inner critic’. When it happens scan the body for how it is reacting, and bring conscious awareness to your breathing.
Give your inner critic a name
Find a name that represents your inner critic, then you can literally call it out and tell it to stop when it gets loud. This was a game changer for me, mine is named after a mean girl I went to school with and whenever I notice her getting loud I tell her to ‘‘please be quiet’.
I hope some of these help. Let me know how you get on.
I know you’ve waiting patiently to hear how the story ends, thanks for sticking with me for this long.
Well, after admitting proudly that I am in fact a runner, I resolved that this person was probably not the right person to guide me in business. I said my good byes and ran off into to sunset listening to Beyonce’s MOVE.
Ok that last bit is a fib.
I actually got in my car and drove home, but it would have been cool to have whipped off my daytime clothes to reveal my very serious running attire underneath and run off into the sunset with a big ‘ol smile on face.
I saved that for my next run. Which I did with a big smile on my face.
Thanks for reading.
See you on the mat or out running soon.
Vx
PS - I am about to start yoga for runners classes, let me know if your interested on the link below and I can send you the class information first.
