Hey everyone! It’s Sarah here, and I’m excited to share some golden nuggets from our latest episode of the Boss Body podcast. “Silencing The Inner Critic,” and we were lucky enough to have the fabulous Karen Shier join us. Karen’s not just a life coach and author but a midlife transformation guide who’s all about helping women flourish in their second half of life.

Meet Karen Shier: The Queen of Midlife Transformation

Karen kicks off the episode by sharing her journey—30 years grinding it out in corporate America but feeling something crucial was missing. Eventually, she shifted gears and found her true passion in coaching and empowering women like us. Her story is a great reminder that it’s never too late to find joy and fulfillment.

What Exactly is the Inner Critic?

So, let’s talk about the inner critic. It’s that annoying, negative voice in our heads that’s shaped by our past experiences, what society tells us, and those beliefs we picked up as kids. It’s that little gremlin saying, “You’re not good enough,” or “You can’t do this.” And yeah, it messes with our self-esteem big time!

We also chatted about the importance of pushing out of our comfort zones. Karen and I dug into how being vulnerable and stepping into the unknown is key to chasing after what we truly want. Vulnerability gets a bad rap, but it’s actually where real growth happens. Karen shared a personal story about how she internalized some hurtful comments, and it affected her self-perception for years. It was a raw and real moment that highlighted how important it is to process past wounds. Tools like journaling can be a lifesaver here!

Intuition vs. Inner Critic

One of the things that blew my mind was learning to separate our intuition from the inner critic. Our intuition is that positive, empowering inner voice, while the inner critic is the negative Nelly. When you have a thought that feels good and lifts you up, that’s your intuition. When it feels crappy and makes you doubt yourself, that’s the inner critic. Simple, right?

Dealing with Emotional Stuff

Karen and I also talked about how easy it is to dodge uncomfortable emotions by burying ourselves in work or food. Yep, guilty here! But it’s so important to tackle these emotions head-on. Getting guidance can help untangle these feelings and move us forward.

Cool Tools to Calm the Inner Critic

Karen shared some awesome tools for dealing with the inner critic. She even has a free e-guide on her website that’s all about soothing that negative voice and tapping into your inner wisdom. I’d totally recommend checking it out if you’re looking for some seriously helpful tips.

Being Your Best Self in Midlife

Ultimately, we want to help women rise and shine in their midlife and beyond. A huge part of this is understanding that the inner critic is just a wounded part of us crying for attention. By managing it and tuning into our true voice, we can open ourselves up to more joy and happiness.

I’m so grateful we had Karen on the show. She brought such valuable insights and practical advice. Remember, that inner critic isn’t your true voice. Separate yourself from it, lean into your intuition, and let it guide you to the amazing life you deserve.

Till next time, keep pushing, keep growing, and remember—you’ve got this!