MY VOICE OF JUDGEMENT WON'T SHUT UP BY SYDNEY GINLEY

I’m fairly confident that I’m my own worst critic. This implies that I give myself criticism that can’t be used in a productive, forward thinking manner, which for me as a creative person is an issue. Throughout this semester, I’ve come to realize that the voice that gives me this bad criticism has a name: Voice of Judgement.

It used to only be noticeable in my academic work, until I started tracking it in other aspects of my life. And boy, did I start hearing it a lot more often.

I wasn’t bold enough to wear that outfit.

I wasn’t tired enough to drink coffee.

I wasn’t experienced enough to apply for that internship.

I wasn’t social enough to join a sorority.

I wasn’t pretty enough to ask a guy to dance with me.

I wasn’t good enough to win a ribbon at a horse show.

But after listening to this little voice my entire life, I’ve definitely learned a lot about it. For one thing, it lies ALL THE TIME.  It tells lies that are meant to destroy the creative process. Our VoJ wraps us in a padded protective bubble that doesn’t let us feel failure. It’s wrapped around our arms so we can’t reach out for new ideas. It means well, but it’s suffocating our creative minds.

To truly be creative, we need to be able to risk freely. We’re already going up against outside forces, we can’t turn on ourselves as well.