I used to wonder if other people hear "a voice" inside their heads like I do. In my case it's Ivan, my "inner-bully". Ivan (as in "The Terrible") delights in telling me that I'm just not quite good enough, smart enough, kind enough... Well, you get the idea.
Therefore, I was somewhat comforted recently to read this statistic: "Research shows that up to 90 percent of people's thoughts are critical or judgmental. And the vast majority of these are aimed at oneself." Ahh - Ivan is not alone.
Negative thinking makes enjoying your job (not to mention your life) and being comfortable in it a whole lot harder. When you make a mistake or face a set-back, negative thinking can make the implications seem far worse and far more overwhelming than they really are.
So, if you have an "Ivan the Terrible" living inside your head, here are a few tips to help banish him.
1. Give yourself some well-deserved praise over all the hard work you do and the good you accomplish.
2. Give other people in your life some well-deserved praise - just as negative thinking feeds on itself, so does positive thinking.
3. Cultivate a positive attitude and a sense of humor. Remember that hardly anyone takes us as seriously as we take ourselves.
4. Smile, even when you don't really feel like it. Smiling releases endorphins into your system, and natural endorphins stimulate feelings of well-being and relaxation.
5. And one last recommendation - tell Ivan to just shush. It's not always his turn to talk.
Some additional reading: 
iVillage.co.uk
Kick the Habit of Self-Criticism
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