From Judgment to Curiosity: How My Inner Critic Met My Inner Scientist (and Why Your Vibe Check Matters)
Internal Family Systems Therapy, Therapy, Talk therapy, Therapy for women, inner critic, self conscious, low confidence Kelsey Beson Internal Family Systems Therapy, Therapy, Talk therapy, Therapy for women, inner critic, self conscious, low confidence Kelsey Beson

From Judgment to Curiosity: How My Inner Critic Met My Inner Scientist (and Why Your Vibe Check Matters)

From Judgment to Curiosity: How My Inner Critic Met My Inner Scientist (and Why Your Vibe Check Matters)

Let me tell you about Maya. I met her the other day, and almost immediately, my internal alarm bells started ringing. My brain, bless its protective little heart, went into overdrive. Stuck up. Fake enlightened. One of those people. You know the type. I categorized her, neatly tucking her into a mental box labeled "Avoid at All Costs." My neuroception—my nervous system’s unconscious "vibe check"—had decided she was a threat, even though there was no actual danger.

It’s a familiar pattern, isn’t it? That instant, visceral reaction to someone new, or even to a situation. Before my conscious mind could even form a coherent thought, my body had already made a judgment. And for a long time, I just accepted these snap judgments as truth. But what if there’s more to the story? What if that initial "vibe check" is actually an invitation to a deeper understanding, both of others and, more importantly, of ourselves?

This is where the fascinating dance between interoception and exteroception comes into play, and why developing a kinder relationship with ourselves starts with noticing.

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