Inner Critic: Talk

In this session of Untangling the Mind, Andrew explores the inner critic through the lens of mindfulness and early Buddhist teachings. Drawing on the Buddhist teaching of the “second arrow,” he examines self-judgment, overthinking, perfectionism, and the stories the mind creates when fear, insecurity, or inadequacy arise. Andrew discusses how suffering often deepens when criticism is added on top of an already difficult experience, and how mindfulness and compassion can help us relate differently to these patterns. Rather than trying to eliminate the inner critic, this practice invites us to meet it with greater awareness, kindness, and understanding. Prompt: What's a common phrase or message your inner critic tends to say?Talk segment that complements the sit portion on Inner CriticGroup Date: 5/19/2026