The Inner Critic Spiral
Learn how the inner critic forms and how to soften it.
Staying Present While the Voice Talks
Staying present while the voice talks means keeping your feet where they are.
The commentary moves around you, abstract and familiar, but you remain grounded.
Presence no longer depends on silence. It exists alongside noise, steady and intact.
Stay present with DojoWell.
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Articles exploring the psychology behind these patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stay "present" when my mind is constantly commenting on what I'm doing?
You practice "Parallel Presence." You allow the commentary to continue in the background while your Contiguous Attention stays on the physical task. You are the "anchor" (the presence) and the voice is the "weather." You don't need the weather to be clear to stay anchored. By staying present while the voice talks, you prove to your Threat system that the commentary has no power to disrupt your reality.
Won't the voice distract me if I don't try to stop it?
Only if you give it "meaning density." If you treat the voice as "urgent news," it will distract you. If you treat it as "background static," it becomes a harmless occurrence. By staying with the physical sensation of what you are doing—the weight of a pen, the feel of your feet—you keep your integrator online. The voice eventually tires itself out because it is no longer the "center" of your world.