That Nasty Voice Inside Your Head

I've been reading a book by Sandra Champlain titled "We Don't Die."  The title is a little misleading, as it implies the book is an argument for life after death.  The author does indeed believe in life after death, and I strongly lean in that direction myself.  However, the book is more of a self-help book with spiritual overtones.  I was expecting a book about electronic voice phenomena (EVP), and almost stopped reading when it became apparent that the book was more about personal success in life.

However, I didn't stop, and am glad that I did not, because the book had a lot more value than one solely about EVP.  The biggest benefit the book has had for me, so far, is to quiet the negative voice in my head, the omnipresent critic, the one who keeps telling me that I am an idiot, a fool, a failure, a clod, a moron, and that I couldn't play bass because that's for other people, not me.  Nobody loves me and I am a poor miserable victim, WAAAAAAH!  You probably have the same voice in your head -- we all do.  I named mine Melvin.

The problem with "the Voice" is that it is a negative kind of mantra, an evil prayer and self-fulfilling prophecy.  If you listen to the nasty little bugger, you may just give up on life, your goals, your dreams.  You may quit your job, become a hermit, or worse, vote Democrat.  However, you can quiet the voice.  Lately I have just been telling it SHUT THE HELL UP!

Whenever you hear the voice, be aware of its message, and consciously reject it.  When Melvin (my Voice) tells me "you are a fool," I reply:  I have been a fool many times, but that's the price of being human; I am a work in progress, and am improving all the time. Now piss off!