Last week I was at the pool going through the motions of trying to swim when a coach approached. The Aquatic Director and Triathlon Swim Coach, actually. We talked about my goals (survive my first tri) and she asked to see my stroke. I swam out and most of the way back before I wigged out enough to take a big drag on the water. After spelling out my options for lessons, masters swim, a training group, her only comment to me about my swimming was “you’ve got time”. Of course it would’ve been nice to hear “Wow! You’re a natural!” What a great stroke! Espirit de She will be cake for you!” But we all know none of that would be remotely true.
You’ve got time. And I do: 2 months from yesterday to figure this swim thing out. 60 days to bring the swim bike run all together into one badass festival of multisport.
Instead my inner critic went a little crazy. I’ve got time. That’s all she could think of to say that wasn’t horrible. Because my stroke is just that: horrible. Because I suck and I’m not a swimmer and in my head I was already boarding the kayak or canoe or whatever craft of shame they use to pluck the wigged-out swimmers from the water.
Then I collected myself a little, drew a deep breath and realized my inner critic needs some taming. So I put together some tactics to do just that. To keep those suck monkeys in check:
1. Acknowledge your inner critic. What is she saying? Mine’s saying “What if you’re not ready?” “You suck at this” Michael Phelps is about 6’8″ and you’re 5’2″. “You’re so not a swimmer.”
2. Is it valid? Well partially. I may not be ready, but I’m doing my best to be ready. The jury’s out on the sucking part. I’m vertically challenged: truth. Not a swimmer? I’m swimming, ugly maybe, but I haven’t sunk or drowned yet, so false.
3. Replace the negativity with positive affirmations. I’ve been using positive affirmations while running since the beginning of time. Today in the pool I allowed only positive self-talk. It felt ridiculous at first, as it always does. Then hilarious. But then? I relaxed the tiniest bit. I may not be the fastest or have the best stroke, or a hot bike. But if I can just stay within myself and be my own best friend, I’ve got this. Did you hear that suck monkey? GOT THIS.
Do you have an inner critic? What does it say? How do you silence it?
I’m linking up today with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.
I do this to myself every time I taper, for some reason months of training feel like nothing when my weekly mileage is cut in half. I would love to try a tri 🙂 but swimming is hard, but so is running and with a little time that get’s easier so hopefully soon swimming will get easier for you too.
I love this. Do I have an inner critic? I spend as much time working on my mental fitness as I do my physical fitness. It’s a continual work in progress.
I am 5’2″ also 🙂 I always feel like i am looking up at folks…anyway, it’s awesome you are doing it! Swimming is tough. While i was injured I did some water work and really enjoyed it, but I stayed in the belt even when I swam laps. I would take it off toward the end of my session and was getting stronger but i was there for a medical program so I only had 60 days. My gym doesn’t have a pool.
You will be ready in two months, and it’s about getting from point A to B right 🙂
Yes! Great tips. I have a very loud inner critic too. She’s always telling me I can’t do things. While I accept being vertically challenged (5’1″), I do not accept that as a reason not to be able to do something (except dunk, which I don’t care about). And while “you have time” isn’t the response you wanted, it’s so much better than “oh my god please get out of the pool before I have to throw the lifeguard in after you!”
First, lovin’ the new look to your blog! And yes, I am my own worst critic….Great tips on battling this!
You are a rockstar! I suck at swimming and am likely so afraid of that inner voice that it keeps me away. Great post and thank you for thinking out loud today – it’s inspiring.
My inner critic is alive and well as I am often my own worst critic. I’m working on it though! Good tips!
First: the site looks fabulous! Nice job. Second: I’ve found my inner critic is quieter as I age–maybe I’m just better at ignoring her? Great tips.
It’s easy to be our own worst critic. I do believe positive affirmations work and when someone gives you a compliment accept them, don’t refute them.
I love this!!! I try to do something similar whenever I want to talk myself out of something hard. I just remind myself that I can do whatever I put my mind to and as long as I know I tried my best then I am happy! PS. Did you update your site? I like it!!!
Yes. Yes! YES!! I needed to read this. Thank you! As my marathon approaches in a few days… I need to hush that inner critic with positive/self-affirming words 🙂
yes! I always have to remind myself that my inner critic is not valid when I start freaking out at the start line of a race
Love this post! I think we all face that inner critic on a regular basis, unfortunately. Mine likes to pop up on long runs and tries to get me to quit early.
love this! and yes I have an inner critic and I have been known to blow something up for sure! It is a work in progress my friend! You updated your web-site! NIce!
I think that coach could have been a little more encouraging!!!
Love that you know how to silence your own inner critic.
And, I love the new look over here!!
Yes! Tell my inner bitch to shut it! haha! Love these tips Marcia!
Its always so hard to talk ourselves out of the messages that our inner critic sends us. We’re often our own worst critic.
I do my best to prove her wrong!
Such a great post Marcia!!! YES, inner critic my whole life – practice practice practice is what I do in terms of trying to overcome it. 🙂
Great tips. This is something I am really working on.
My inner critic is not my friend, we are currently in a fight about my weight gain.
You’ve got this! You have been working so hard on your swimming and I am sure that you will be so successful in your tri! I definitely have an inner critic which is way more harsh than other people ever are.
Ugh this is something I’ve been really struggling with since I started the year injured. I’m getting better but it’s a work in progress. I’m loving the new look here!!!
I love this! and suck monkeys… haha that’s awesome and something I’ll remember.
It is so true that we are generally our own worst critics. I have a half on Saturday that I feel completely unprepared for. It’s not my first half, I’ve been running for 5 years, I’m not traveling and it’s even a race I have done before. I should be fresh out of reasons to be stressing out… but somehow I am still so worried that it will be an epic fail!
I have always wanted to do a tri – “just” a Sprint Tri since they are significantly shorter distances than anything else I’ve found! But swimming in the open water terrifies me. “you have time” – I love that! The perfect honest and encouraging response 🙂 I am excited to follow your training for your first tri!!
This by far is the best post of the day for me. I feel like we don’t talk about these games we play enough with ourselves in the fitness field. People assume things are easy or we don’t have to work hard – but it’s hard work everyday!! Way to have a great attitude about it though!!
Great simple techniques. Also, a ride on the SUP or kayak might be a pleasant way to finish the swim and save energy for the bike and run.
My inner critic looks just like me but sits around and drinks beer and eats pizza all day. It’s constantly tryna drag me over to the dark side haha so thanks for the tips!
What great tips! I go through phases of feeling down on myself for things (not fast enough, I’ll never qualify for Boston, etc), but then I try to stop and motivated myself to just work harder. Which then leads to feeling more positive! I love watching running videos/workouts on Flotrack.org.
Great tips! I suck at swimming too, but I’m hoping to change that soon. I am working on my inner critic and try to replace any negativity with something positive just like your number 3. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Why are we so hard on ourselves? It’s not like you’re swimming at the Olympics and being broadcast into people’s loungerooms. You just have to be able to swim enough not to drown on the first leg and the rest will be right in your comfort zone. I like your tips. They’re the ones I use myself when I’m struggling with that harsh voice in my head.
No one in the triathlon world is there to judge how pretty and graceful your stroke is. I can’t even do freestyle and yet I’m training for a 70.3. I can only do the breast stroke 🙂 My point is that it does not matter how you cover the swim distance, just train to have the endurance to cover it doing whatever stroke you want. You can do it!
LOVE this posted. I needed to hear this today! I am my own worse critic! And you do have time. You are going to do awesome 🙂
ooh, not the nicest comment. i definitely have my inner critic come out, although she’s stayed away for a while. i think it was a lot worse during NYCM training.