What your inner critic might have to do with it.
Have you ever noticed how some people lean lovingly into quiet moments, savouring the hush of a morning coffee, a silent drive, a few still minutes before sleep, while others feel twitchy, unsettled, or suddenly “panicky” when things slow down?
It’s a curious thing, how we each respond to stillness. Some people seek it. Others avoid it. And there’s no right or wrong, it’s just worth noticing.
For many of us, quiet can be deeply nourishing. A chance to breathe, feel, listen in. But for others, quiet can be loud. Not because of what’s around us, but because of what’s within us.
The inner critic; oh, she’s chatty in the quiet, isn’t she?
When we stop moving, stop scrolling, stop doing… that’s often when the whispers start:
“You should be doing more.”
“You’re not enough.”
“Why did you say that?”
“You always mess this up.”
And so on and so on and so on.
No wonder we keep ourselves busy. Or surround ourselves with noise, distraction, anything to avoid hearing that voice echoing in the stillness.
But here’s the thing: your inner critic isn’t you.
He or She might sound like you. But it’s a collection of old fears, outdated beliefs, protective mechanisms that were wired in long ago. It thinks it’s keeping you safe. But really, it’s keeping you stuck.
Through hypnotherapy, we can gently explore this. We can meet that inner critic, not to shut him or her up, but to understand it. And then, together, we can turn down the volume. Rewire the message. Create space for a kinder voice.
One that says:
“You’re allowed to rest.”
“You’re doing your best.”
“You are deeply enough, exactly as you are.”
When that happens, quiet starts to feel less scary.
It starts to feel like peace.
If you’re someone who finds stillness uncomfortable, or if you long to enjoy quiet moments but don’t know how to get there, I’d love to help. Hypnotherapy can offer a soft, safe space to begin.
Warmly,
Suse
Mangawhai Hypnotherapy
