Thrive Talks Community Education Series: Befriending Your Inner and Outer Critic: Building a Better Relationship with Others and Yourself

Befriending Your Inner and Outer Critic: Building a Better Relationship with Others and Yourself - Many of us walk around with inner and outer critic parts - reactions to ourselves or others that are marked by anger or shame. Through accessible storytelling and body-based awareness, this workshop explores how shame and anger often emerge as survival strategies and how they quietly influence our relationships with ourselves and others. Participants will learn how to recognize when these critics are activated, understand the emotions beneath them, and practice simple present-moment tools to respond with greater compassion and choice. By befriending these protective parts rather than fighting them, individuals can reduce reactivity, deepen self-understanding, and build more authentic, connected relationships.