Fiona McAllister 
You found a nice item. You take it to the fitting room. You put it on and…
Your inner critic has got a lot to say. It doesn’t really matter what the accusations are, but they are LOUD. You’re too fat. You’re too skinny. You’re too tall. You’re too short. You’re too something.
At the best of times shopping can be an emotionally draining experience, especially if your inner critic is LOUD every time you try something on. It can leave you feeling down and depressed with each new item. And after only a short while what you hoped would be a nice, or at least neutral experience turns into a self beating up session, again.
Then you may beat yourself up for beating yourself up, and this downward cycle becomes more entrenched in your shopping experiences in the future.
Many women experience extremely harsh inner critics when it comes to trying clothing on. We judge ourselves against the unrealistic beauty ideals that have been shown to us in magazines and movies.
The task then is paying attention to the self talk and the feelings that arise when we are in the fitting room. When the inner critic shows up and dumps thoughts through your brain (you are so ugly, nothing looks good) and feelings (sadness, depression) through your body, YOU need to recognize it.
Style Mindfulness:
This recognition is the first step to being able to tell yourself a new compassion story. This compassion story might sound like,
“This top doesn’t suit my body type, and it is simply the top that is not right for me. I am okay.”
This is a mindfulness exercise that will take time and practice to override the old inner critic beat self up story. So be kind, loving, patient and gentle as you reprogram your thoughts and feelings while in the fitting room.
So the next time your inner critic has a loud voice, you make up a compassion story to override the beat self up story it is throwing at you. Your inner critic is not in charge, and you do not have to listen to it. It is simply telling you a false story about who you really are.
YOU have the power to change this story, bit by bit, time by time, so that shopping can become a more neutral, or even a positive experience.
And if you need help to learn what styles and colours work for you, hire me! I’m glad to help you learn to love and appreciate your body by knowing how to dress it well.
Blessings,
