Some people seem to go through life simply fixing their mistakes and moving on. Others, however, dwell on past mistakes and allow them to affect their confidence and overall well-being. If you identify with the latter group, there are several things you can do to address this inner critic and gain freedom from oppressive thought patterns.

Acknowledge the Thoughts

Positive change cannot spring from denial. The first thing you need to do when your self-critic starts to flood your brain with negative messages is acknowledge these thoughts. Try to decipher where they come from or what triggers them. Do you have them more often when you are in a difficult or challenging situation at work? Do they seem to pop up in specific social scenarios? The key to addressing your inner critic is likely to start with its source.

If you don't feel comfortable or qualified to navigate this introspection on your own, it may be useful to find a therapist. Hearing yourself say negative thoughts out loud is often a critical step in the process of learning to quiet them. A trained counselor can walk you through it.

Replace Uncharitable Self-Talk With Other Messages

Even if you recognize the negative self-talk that you're engaging in, you will probably find it difficult to simply stop thinking that way about yourself. It's not enough to silence the hurtful thoughts; you must also replace them with positive messages. 

It's OK if you can't think of anything on your own. Start by collecting simple affirmations that are meaningful to you. Write a few on different slips of paper and leave them posted around your home or your desk at work. For example, you can tape them to the mirror in your bathroom or stick them on your refrigerator door. Try placing one at the top of each day's to-do list. After a few days of facing these positive messages, you are likely to notice that you feel better about yourself. 

Pay Attention to the Mind-Body Connection

When you process negative energy, it doesn't just disappear. It needs somewhere to go. Many people get stuck in their negative self-talk because they don't know how to release it. A healthy mind-body connection keeps you grounded and helps you finish the stress cycle by expelling the extra energy created by all the thoughts that weigh heavy on your mind.

There are several things you can do to embody peace and keep your mind and body connected:

• Meditate or pray
• Get good, adequate sleep
• Practice taking deep breaths
• Use physical expressions of emotion, such as laughing or crying
• Exercise regularly

Tap Into Your Existing Interpersonal Compassion

Many people who have a loud self-critic often overflow with compassion toward other people. They are loving and they forgive easily. They empathize with others' pain and typically go out of their way to be generous and helpful. Even when other people are in a bad mood and not exhibiting their best selves, these kind people find it easy to see their good sides.

You probably already have a deep well of compassion toward other people. The great news is that you can use these same skills when you think about yourself. Whenever you notice an unfairly critical thought creeping in, ask yourself how you would feel if someone said that about someone you love. Get into the practice of extending the same grace to yourself that you give to others.

Overcoming your inner critic takes a lot of self-awareness and hard work. Once you learn how to show yourself as much love as you show to friends and family, however, you are likely to find your negative self-talk is not as loud as it was before.