No way—not ME! I'm a fool for thinking I could do that. I'm definitely NOT good enough!

Have you surrendered to negative self-talk like that? While it's normal to occasionally indulge in self-criticism, a chronically self-defeating mindset—often a result of unresolved trauma—can be emotionally debilitating.

Left unchecked, the inner critical voice spins incessant negative commentary about who we are, what we are capable of, and how we behave. It can cause us to believe we are not worth of love and belonging. It is a barrier to fulfilling relationships with self, others, and God. It can become hardwired into our brain's neural pathways. Ultimately it may convince us to quit trying.

In Conquering Your Inner Critic, Dr. Debi Gilmore, a Latter-day Saint psychotherapist, unmasks that contrary voice, showing how it blocks our ability to rely on our unique gifts and talents that are essential in our quest to conquer the challenges of life. She teaches the building blocks of self-worth, describes the nature and methods of our Inner Critic, and incorporates gospel truths to show how we can rise above the demeaning chatter to discover, empower, and preserve our deeper, wiser, and authentic self. Each chapter offers application exercises designed to cement foundational concepts and to spur implementation of learned skills.