The first step is to recognize that as painful and hindering as the inner critic is, it does have the best of intentions. Its words are formed from years of trying to protect us. However, because of the reasons listed above, its well-intentioned efforts backfire. It is best to approach our inner critic with a mindset of curiosity, and we can begin to do so by asking these 3 questions: What is the worst that can happen? What are the odds of that happening? How would you cope?