In one of the most notable scenes of one of my all time favorite chic-flicks, Bridget Jones chides her love interest (So Austen-ly named Mr. Darcy) for making her feel like an idiot.

“I already feel like an idiot most of the time anyway,” she says. Yeah, I get it.  While I (thankfully) don’t slide down fire poles and reveal my undergarments to an entire nation of viewers or land my parachute in pig feces, a la Ms. Jones, I do have my own specialty brand of sticking my foot in it.

So, what do I do when I feel like walking around town with a paper bag on my head?

Why, revel in it, of course.

Say WHAT?!?!

Yeah, you heard me right. I look like a dope and I’m proud.

Ok, ok, ok, maybe that’s taking things a bit too far, but here’s the deal: when I make a donkey of myself, I take a deep breath and own it. 

Sometimes, it’s a legitimate mistake, and I need to own up to it. Often, I am just down right uncomfortable.

That is what the inner critic wants us to feel. Uncomfortable. “Don’t share your writing.  No one will like it.”  “Everyone will call it stupid.” “Are you serious?  Three adjectives in a row?  And you call yourself a writer!”

Ta Ta, Inner Critic.

That’s what Date With The Muse is all about: finding so much strength in your creative self that your inner critic runs out of (hot) air to breathe.

It’s how I work one-on-one with my clients on their writing projects. And how I try to live each day. Ta Ta, Inner Critic.

Are you ready to say goodbye to your inner critic?  We’ve got a great, supportive Facebook group where you can share your word counts and get expert advice. Please join us.

Ah, yes, and while we’re on embarrassing things…  I’ve been taking some big risks with video. Have you seen the latest antics? In the spirit of ousting the inner critic and ushering in the muse, I share it with you. Proudly.

While we’re waxing poetic on embarrassment, here’s another confession: one of my first writing assignments was as the “Fun Page” editor for my high school newspaper. Following the lead of a magazine I was into at the time, I created a column of funniest embarrassing moments.

Mostly, it was an opportunity for my peers to prank the newspaper’s  mailbox with things like “One time I was caught in public doing X, which was especially embarrassing because I’m the high school principal.” 

Ah, fun times as a first time editor. Shout back at me: What was your first writing assignment?  OR your most embarrassing moment?  Maybe your first embarrassing writing moment…

I just love to hear your stories! Drop a line in the comments below or give my company a call. We can discuss the best ways to deal with your noisy, inner critic.