"私たちの内なる批評家や外部の批評家に買い取られることを拒否すればするほど、私たちの選択や行動に自信を持つことが容易になるでしょう。"

Let’s break this down. At its core, the quote is all about silencing those nagging, negative voices inside your head—and the ones coming from others. You know the type. They tell you you’re not good enough, or that your ideas are ridiculous. The less you listen to those voices, the more confidence you’ll build in your decisions and actions.

Historically, this kind of wisdom pops up in various self-help and personal development circles. People like to attribute it to the age-old battle between self-doubt and self-confidence. You might find similar sentiments in the teachings of Stoic philosophers like Marcus Aurelius, or in modern-day motivational speakers.

Now, picture this: you’ve got a friend, Sarah, who’s always wanted to start her own bakery. She’s an incredible baker—her chocolate chip cookies are legendary. But she’s got this inner critic that won’t shut up. It tells her she’s not business-savvy enough, that she’ll fail and be a laughingstock. Add to that her well-meaning but skeptical aunt who thinks opening a bakery is too risky. Sarah’s stuck in this loop of doubt.

One day, Sarah decides she’s had enough. She acknowledges the inner critic and her aunt’s concerns but chooses not to let them dictate her actions. She starts small, baking from her kitchen and selling online. Slowly but surely, her confidence grows. She gets rave reviews and builds a loyal customer base. Fast forward a couple of years, and Sarah’s Bakery is a bustling little shop in the heart of town.

So, what’s the takeaway here? First, recognize the voices for what they are—just opinions, not facts. You don’t have to banish them entirely (that might be impossible), but you can choose not to let them control you. When those voices pop up, question their validity. Are they based on real evidence, or are they just a manifestation of your fears and insecurities? Often, it’s the latter.

Imagine you’re in a meeting, and you’ve got a brilliant idea for a project. Your inner critic pipes up, saying, “Don’t share it, it’s probably stupid.” Instead of shutting down, you acknowledge the fear but share the idea anyway. Maybe it gets shot down, or maybe it’s a hit. Either way, you’ve taken a step toward building confidence in your choices. Each time you refuse to buy into those negative voices, you’re strengthening that confidence muscle.

Let me share a quick story that might hit home. A friend of mine, Tom, was always into art but ended up in a corporate job because, well, it seemed like the “sensible” thing to do. He wasn’t happy. His inner critic kept saying he wasn’t talented enough to make it as an artist. But then, during the pandemic, he started painting again. He posted his work online, just for fun. People loved it. That little boost of external validation helped him mute his inner critic. Now he’s got his own studio and sells his art full-time. It wasn’t an overnight success—there were plenty of ups and downs—but not letting those critical voices dictate his path made all the difference.

So, next time your inner critic rears its head, treat it like a pesky fly. Swat it away and keep doing what you believe in. Over time, you’ll notice it gets easier and easier to trust yourself. And when you trust yourself, amazing things can happen. You’ve got this.