We’ve all got one -- and it can seem like it will never leave us alone. Just when you’re about to launch that new product, or give that important presentation, or interview for that job you really want, it comes knocking at your door.
I’m talking about your inner critic. That voice inside your head that nags at you, tells you you can’t do it, and reminds you of all the times you’ve failed.
Meet Joel Brown, a guy who’s appeared on magazine covers and TV shows, worked with Tony Robbins, and spread the knowledge of self development all over the world. He’s the founder of Addicted2Success, a motivation site with an audience of over 80 million viewers.
He’s just like you -- except he’s made peace with his inner critic. He’s a testament to the kind of success that’s possible when you finally get out of your own way.
“We are all designed in a certain way and born into this world for a purpose. A lot of us really just get in our own way all the time,” Brown says.
If you’re looking for all the details, on how Brown got his start just four years ago check out this week’s podcast episode, “Making Peace With Your Inner Critic w/ Addicted2Success Founder Joel Brown”
Brown dropped out of high school in 11th grade, and never attended college. If anyone’s got reasons why they can’t make it big, it’s him.
Yet he hasn’t let any of that stop him. He says the secret to his success has been having the courage to look at his limiting beliefs and heal them.
“My body doesn’t just hold organs and blood, there’s also an emotional body,” Brown says. “Once you understand that you can start clearing away things and your true calling comes through.”
Brown’s true calling has emerged in the form of his blog and podcast and producing the movie RiseUP, which has inspired millions to look inward and overcome their mental blocks.
Below, Brown shares his top 4 steps to create a mental framework that cuts through the excuses and empowers you.
Step #1: Bring curiosity to your negative beliefs. Naturally as human beings we are skeptical. Approach your negative beliefs objectively -- get curious about why they are there. Don’t identify with them or make yourself wrong for them, but rather see them as a natural response to your life experiences and allow them to be there. Perhaps you’ve struggled to make the money you want, so you’ve developed the belief that making money is hard and unlikely.
By bringing curiosity instead of resistance or judgement there is space for those beliefs to have a voice and ultimately begin to complete and disappear.
Step #2: Feed your positive beliefs. “Turn the noise down on negativity and turn the noise up on empowering beliefs,” Brown says. Tune into the thoughts that encourage you and give them more attention -- what you focus on grows. If you’ve got a belief that you’re charismatic and great at making friends, reinforce that for yourself. Take it a step further by imagining yourself networking with people who uplift you. You’ll open up this avenue for yourself in real life by truly believing it’s possible.
Step #3: Be committed to mastery. Be willing to become a master at whatever is important to you- overcoming a limiting belief, creating a breakthrough in your business, or initiating a daily routine. When you live your life with the framework of mastery you have the opportunity to sit in the student chair and prioritize your own learning and growth over anything else.
Each day focus on a 1% shift- it could be waking up with gratitude, taking a short walk, reading a chapter in a book, making an important phone call, or saying yes to something that feels out of your comfort zone. Before you know it day after day you will begin hacking away at anything that stands in your way.
Step #4: Create a 10-year vision gameplay. Envision what you’d like your ideal life to look like in 10 years. Dream big -- don’t underestimate what you can accomplish in a decade! Start with the 10th year, defining every aspect of your life from personal relationships, to business, finances, health, recreation and travel. Then, write down everything you would need to have done in the 9th year to get there, in as much detail as you can. Break it down for yourself month by month if you can. Repeat by going backwards in time each year until you get to the present moment. Commit to this vision and to actually taking the steps you’ve listed to get there -- it is possible.
5 years ago, Brown went through this process, and today, he’s already living his 10 year vision and then some.
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