How to Silence the Negative Voices in Your Head: An Illustrated Guide

A video for people prone to self-sabotage, procrastination, and comparison.
This is about personifying the negative voices that come between you and the work.

[@LucienNox]

Anyone else falling in love with this beautiful human’s mind?! I’ve never felt so understood 🥲

[@chizuruyato3161]

Can't say I never felt understood like this (there are some other channels where I did), but yes, absolutely! Every single one of his (advice) videos is the best advice regarding some things as well as the approaches he recommends. And compared to some (other) life coach videos (not saying they're bad), he seems authentic and real and it helps that he shows he goes through some stuff himself. So, definitely :)

[@alejandragarza3675]

Agreed!

[@anitamoko9344]

Yup low-key cried half way through this video

[@pambellefleur7588]

Absolutely! Hopefully, @Strutless takes a seat at the inner critic's table in my mind soon :)

[@groupeffort9514]

On ma

[@Formanian]

My most debilitating inner critic is the one that continuously wants to remind me that I haven't done ANYTHING of importance yet. Importance to him equals monetary value. It takes away all the joy in writing, drawing or music. I haven't made much money off of my hobbies and I'm a grown-up, which to him means I'm a massive failure. If I try to focus on one discipline and actually become better at something (like recording or playing guitar) he keeps saying that I should have gotten better at it a long time ago, when I was sixteen. It's too late now. Everything failed. Give up your dreams. To him life is: get a boring career, find a wife and be normal! I'm gonna call him Gerry now. Gerry the Grown-up. And he needs to shut the F up.

[@briaphilpot5964]

I have the same inner critic that tells me I should've mastered photography, painting and music by now and that it's too late. It tells me how stupid I look bc I'm getting too old to be daydreaming. I'm only 27. It reminds me how for so long I tried to please others that now I struggle with my own identity and have nothing to say via my art. It's crippling and debilitating.

[@Formanian]

@@briaphilpot5964 I'm 27 too :) For some reason this whole quarantine-time has been very good for my focus. This Friday my first single drops on Spotify :D And this november I drop an EP with 6 songs. We can still do this Bria. You got this. Have a nice day.

[@TomeRodrigo]

I am 39 and I've achieved absolutely nothing regarding monetary value and hobbies and skills and youtube longer-term achievements and my life generally. Not to worry. We trying our best and that's great. I am not going to give up just because I am nearly 40 years old and something in my mind thinks that I am a big-time failure. No way.

[@marla0412]

Oh my god, it's the exact same for me. I'm soon turning 19 and will have to apply to uni very soon. I was planning on going into design but the voice keeps telling me it's too late for me because I'm not good enough yet.

[@SuperNerdEntertainmentShow]

@@TomeRodrigo I'm 40 and it is surprising how many people are in this boat with us, I assumed I was alone holding on to a life preserver, to later find maybe a life boat of people. The more you talk to people willing to speak freely the more you find people that did just give up on their dreams and see them as hobbies instead of viable business opportunities or careers. Despite some of the most famous people out there are just doing their hobby. My wife once sent me a list of actors (I'm a huge film fan) and you might be surprised by the fact that some of them never made their big break until much later in life. Morgan Freeman was something like 51-52 before he had his big break in to Hollywood and made decent money. He'd been acting a long time, he just never gave up on himself.

[@ghostlyghost9926]

"You'll never be a rapper." - Dad "Honey, spaghettis ready!" - Mom

[@alexthomsen8870]

This is an extremely clever comment. It works on multiple level's

[@alexandergyr4563]

Made me laugh out loud!

[@sanghelian]

took me a while but holy shit man of culture/5 peak humour.

[@PaleMist]

Huh???

[@grittygrady]

Best KZbin comment of all time.

[@l.n.4055]

Damn, I have been in therapy for probably 6 years now and you are one of the only KZbinrs who actually approaches mental health lessons in the way that a trained therapist would. But the best part is how you use the youtube platform to your advantage! You include interactive activities, have engaging commentary, create fun visuals, and its absolutely great for the MANY of us who don't respond to the "wake up at 5AM and workout to be successful" trope. Thanks for reaching out to all us lost and panicked souls! Your videos are the best.

[@naya3253]

I love how you’re like an artist’s life coach

[@jenyih]

100

[@queentomca]

I agree he is very detailed and realistic👌loove it 😉

[@queenofalldamned3365]

Same 💯

[@sorchamarie4089]

These are brilliant for visual learners

[@damagedtalent]

There's a lot of us that have done a lot of acid very relatable thanks for the video help me out a lot.

[@peachradvan5807]

This is embarrassing but I'm going to say it anywhere because you put yourself out there. There was a point, about four minutes in where I actually started to tear up at the relief I felt a) about how similar we all are when it comes to criticising ourselves and b) that there's a tangible technique I can try and use to try and actually get to work and stop believing all those fucking voices. I am super appreciative your channel exists and fyi so far, every video of yours that I've watched, I've loved. Thanks for continuing to fight those voices and give other artists the content we sometimes really just need to hear xxx

[@Ruylopez778]

You might also like Kaufman's speech for Bafta. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4PJiZaNicSifNU

[@gonzalotorres2554]

@@Ruylopez778 From watching videos on how to draw with a digital tablet to the video above, and from there, to this comment and Kaufman's video. A random but very fruitful itinerary. Thank you man

[@annasanchez263]

You said exactly what I was feeling :)

[@Kemarionrev]

I was known as the bad kid and basically a disappointment and i believed it and kept it with me every since. I can say i changed and became a better person but i still have that negative voice. Who ever going through it its ok just remember you are a good person and want to change. You have to be committed to greatness. Tell that voice in your head to fuck off, and whoever try to tell you, you aint worth it you are keep moving and moving and moving.

[@roosderaad]

I hate it when people say to me or others "you should be kinder to yourself". Everybody has their inner judge. We're all alike :)

[@ytdevs]

I’m not a artist, I’m a software developer but I have never came across a channel that resonates with me the way yours do 🙏🙏 thank you friend

[@brooklync8514]

also a developer... or trying to be a developer (voice #1) and I needed this inspiration today.

[@ElanaVital83]

That's kind of an art in itself though right? You have to think creatively.

[@bennytleilax]

Code is art. It does not just have to work right. It has to look right and feel right. It just does not seem like art because the only ones who ever see it are other coders.

[@NormenGaze]

I'm wondering: Aren't there even more voices? Beautiful voices? The once that tell you to create? To love? To show yourself? To dance with your fear? The voices that tell you to contribute and the voice that knows that you have so much experience that you can't dare not to share it with the world? I would LOOOOVE to see a video about them! Love from Hamburg, Germany! Keep Going! Anton.

[@ajmosutra7667]

Yes its logos - look up Heraclitus

[@danzcatapia3946]

🖤🖤

[@WetAdek]

I do have good voices too but the bad ones are somehow more often apparent. I managed to at least shut down the ''perfectionist'' in me, how? I came to the conclusion that perfection doesn't exist because everything has it's good sides and flaws. I remind the perfectionist of this everytime it opens its unwashed mouth.

[@beesquestionmark]

This is a beautiful comment

[@partygirl5698]

This is a phenomenal comment. Thank you for this!!!

[@firefly-fez]

Oh, when Connie the Comparer showed up... She’s been the dominant voice in my head for YEARS. she and Percy the Perfectionist. Rough team they make, those two.

[@australianwhispers]

Those two resonated with me the most as well. Rough team, for sure

[@raquelpurpleboxes]

Are these individuals distinct from yourself?

[@selmaa9846]

I’ve never commented on a video before, but this was sick. I recognised all of those voices, so thank you for making me feel a little less neurotic too.

[@CelestialMagic]

I'm autistic and I always think nothing I'll ever do as an artist will be relatable to anyone alive, so thank you. Just wanted to say this was relatable to me and I'm grateful I found your channel. Also pretending I didn't end up just end up binge-watching these videos.

[@habessieya7167]

I wanna see your art fellow autistic.

[@user-gg9jy1oi2n]

You’re helping so many people. I love this exercise

[@krissydiggs]

Every time I’m having a struggle with an art thing you make a video just in time. Thanks for making the content that you make.

[@innergeee]

I LOVE the personified inner critics and can fully relate, they're inside my head too!

[@SOPHIEELORD]

I can't even begin to explain how much this video resonates with me and how I relate to each character you have drawn. I've never seen someone depict so clearly the thought processes I go through when I'm creating. I love this video and your channel. PLEASE NEVER STOP CREATING! You're awesome 🌈

[@ildikohammond2797]

Your video on the inner critic couldn't have come at a better time for me. This morning, as I geared up to paint in my studio, my inner critic was on full blast. Feeling frustrated, I thought, 'I wonder if Struthless has a video on this?' Lo and behold, your video appeared, and watching it was like a breath of fresh air. Thank you for addressing such a crucial topic. Ironically, I must confess, yesterday I spent most of my time watching your procrastination videos-quite the procrastination tactic in itself! But amidst the humour, I found valuable lessons on overcoming avoidance, especially when it comes to my painting. Your content isn't just entertaining; it's genuinely impactful. Thank you for what you do. Your work matters and makes a difference.

[@swaranbains8326]

We were all just bullied by parents, teachers, lovers and peers weren’t we lol

[@mrperol]

yeah

[@fatimakhan4671]

we're all just a little broken but we shouldn't have to be

[@vaibhavi.singh.]

Finally someone said it

[@MrDyingMonkey]

@@fatimakhan4671 As Marilyn Manson said in a song "I'm not special, I'm just broken, and I don't want to be fixed" it resonates with me, because I believe we should use all our pain, suffering, our broken minds, souls or whatever. Basically use the negative to work for you, the greatest works of art came from the people who have been disturbed, I myself had psychosis and done the best art during that time. Also people like Eminem, I think if not for his struggles in childhood he might have never been great. So I say stay broken, and use it.

[@hyperchord]

except not lol

[@carolinalozano5808]

Last year i was trying to finish my college degree, and i had to go to therapy because this.inner thoughts of procrastination, fear, anxiety, doubt, were consuming me. I was suicidal and i was very depressed. And, as simple as that, my therapist literally told me to, any time I had to do college work, I had to grab a piece of paper and write down what these negative voices were telling me. Making it tangible is like scooping it out of your head, and it really helped me to get into work. (And i finished the freaking career actually lol) I'm so glad you're giving this advice, this video is so meaningful and so beautifully crafted. You are doing so much for so many people ❤️

[@NajaSierra]

I can't even tell how happy I am to have found you. I feel less alone with my darkness x

[@DrEzinneErhirhie]

In my darkness(another critic that should be silenced)

[@amberzakfilmsuk]

‘I’m scared that the things I make are weird’. As a horror screenwriter, I can so relate to this.

[@MeghanStark]

You are contributing something so valuable to the people who watch you. It's really powerful to be candid and innovative, thanks for creating work like this. The deep stuff, the silly stuff, it's all worthwhile. It's inspiring me to get back on the horse of making videos. It's easy to prioritize everything else when it isn't your full-time gig (and sometimes when it is I suppose!). I hope that my creations help a person even a fraction as much as yours do!

[@hannamilos]

Meghan Stark wow I was just browsing the comments and look at this! I’ve stumbled upon a fellow Milwaukean! Cool!!

[@MeghanStark]

@@hannamilos represent!

[@royaparash2136]

This kinda saved ma life :) i was actually thinking that I was broken n I'd be better of dead n felt like I was the only person in the whole world who's fighting a battle with themselves . This video gave me hope n showed me that I'm not the only one struggling and there's a way out of it ... So tnx💙

[@WintaAssefa]

Love you, Roya

[@d3.1415]

We all feel like that, it really sucks. But none of us are really broken, just a bit bent and it can always be bent back to how we want it

[@AdamGrabsch]

This is crazy. I was trying to think of how I would personify my inner thoughts and I was amazed at how accurately you covered many different aspects. This is really cool and helpful. Thanks for this video mate. Nearly didn't leave this comment, because a few of those voices jumped in. Anyway, love your work mate. Glad I found your channel.

[@Spewy83]

It is immensely comforting to know that even amazing creators like yourself struggle with the same self doubts. Thank you for giving up your time to try and help people.

[@alanaclose8301]

I don't normally comment on KZbin because why would what I have to say matter?... But this video was incredible for me. I am currently on a journey working through my depression and this idea of personification is a new one for me. My depressive episode has stopped me being creative but this is really inspiring. I'm watching one of your videos every day and feel like I'm learning new techniques and building on the ones I already have. Thank you for being a part of my journey!

[@asdfghjk0l]

" why would what I have to say matter?" I always think that as well. I'm glad you posted your comment though, because it helps me see I'm not alone.

[@leathelongrun9844]

@@asdfghjk0lWhat you know and think always matters. What you lived, what you overcame, what you still haven't overcome, what you defeated, what makes you happy, what makes you sad, ALL THAT MATTERS. You are a whole person, with memories and experiences, with feelings, with desires, you are a unique person, nobody is the same: You are special.

[@leathelongrun9844]

What you know and think always matters. What you lived, what you overcame, what you still haven't overcome, what you defeated, what makes you happy, what makes you sad, ALL THAT MATTERS. You are a whole person, with memories and experiences, with feelings, with desires, you are a unique person, nobody is the same: You are special.

[@cerealis_5432]

@@leathelongrun9844 thank you. I needed to hear that today.

[@leathelongrun9844]

@@cerealis_5432 🥰 it Is true

[@Skip-Towne]

God it's comforting to know other people have these voices. Personally, I have a voice that berates me for not drawing faster/uploading more often/improving faster and for not monetising my art (doing commissions or something). I'm not sure what I'd call them. Barry the Berator? If that's even a word.

[@serah3521]

Ah, it seems like I have found someone who faces a very similar inner critic! It's like I had tough days at work and it berates me for just wanting to relax a little when the creative well's all dried out and makes me feel guilty that I'm not practising personal art in all my other spare time. I really feel you on having an inner voice berate you for not consistently pumping out work and improving at the rate of other people (which, rationally and logically, is stupid because you can plant two trees side by side but they won't have the same growth rate- but of course the brain begs to differ :'D). It also sometimes gets to the point of, "you don't even have a unique voice or anything good to say, why the hell are you trying so hard for?" Either way, I'm really glad struthless made this video and personally, Comparison and Fear are the two dominant voices for me.

[@lalauo]

Debbie the driver? I’ve got one of those...

[@27nightjars]

oh gosh yes. especially drawing faster. makes me feel so crappy because as i've gotten better at art ive just gotten slower, so i can rarely find help. most of it is 'keep practicing', but the more i practice the slower i get because i can do more things. it's also a slight anxiety feel. Harriet the hasty lol.

[@julianbinder2371]

@@27nightjars you could try to set a challenge where you draw something random like the first thing that you point to when you open a book randomly and point at a randomn passage or you could use a randomn article on wikipedia or a randomn word from and online dictionary and then you have to draw it in like 5 minutes at most or 10 or whatever you choose and then afterwards you can't change it and have to accept how it looks, will help with perfectionism too

[@JamSandwichBag]

Oh I needed this human connection and brilliant vulnerability, insight and suggestions. THANK YOU!

[@tee1338]

Thank you for leaving in the parts where you say you’re unsure about this video. Where vulnerability is courage, you have the courage of a lion. Very inspirational. Thank you

[@fidddlesticksss]

I just heart the haters comments and say something positive back to them and they eventually stop because they’re jotting getting the reaction they want

[@struthless]

this is much better than my method where i beat them in a mental argument while trying to get to sleep

[@TheRealJuicyDetox]

struthless yeah that never leads anywhere productive. It’s just not worth the energy going down that road!

[@mrsbeard5225]

My school psychologist said to do that in response to my ex-best friend in childhood who was being nasty. The best thing to do was ignore her completely... completely wigged her out. So she stopped. And that’s now how I deal with everything... ignore it... til I wig out.

[@TheRealJuicyDetox]

Natalie Price such great advice to remove toxic people from our lives. And definitely not engaging with toxic people, ala not giving your power to them drives them 🍌 🍌 - they don’t like their source of power being stripped from them.

[@TheRealJuicyDetox]

struthless lol I used to do that all the time to. Man I could have the best debates with people in my head, YEARS after the incident. Messed up!

[@TheRealJuicyDetox]

❤️❤️❤️ STRUTHLESS you have been such a major factor in me getting out of my head and silencing my inner critics. I feel somewhat indebted. You were the final spark I needed under my ass to relaunch my KZbin channel here. So excited for March 1st!!!

[@ericafuller789]

Berns Bedard that’s awesome. I’ll definitely check your stuff out. Good luck!!

[@TheRealJuicyDetox]

Erica Fuller ☺️❤️💋

[@thetechchick8296]

So cool!! I need to get offa my ass too!

[@TheRealJuicyDetox]

The Tech Chick come on girl. We got this.

[@samhassan7954]

👍🏻

[@kristalmartin5075]

Thank you Struthless. As with most people, there are many voices in my head which almost paralyse my enthusiasm and action. A teacher from Uni of Newcastle, (whilst I was doing a micro illustration online course) recommended watching your 70% rule (and your stuff in general). I am very grateful for her suggestion. Today I’m binging catch up segments which I feel I need (kick in the bum and wake up to myself advice). Am loving the salt of the earth practicality of your advice and the inclusivity of your attitude (all welcome n no egocentric, pee in pocket cwap). I am often ‘about to start some creative and beautiful pursuit’ but just get intimidated by my own inner talk and fear of success/failure/guilt and so on. And I do absolutely nothing beyond buying fresh new supplies, arranging them impressively at my “art desk”. Action more so than Motivation...nail on head! Cheers, gotta go get started on my shitty first draft, lol.

[@mille-marieevensen8898]

Thank you, Campbell Walker, for having the bravery to document that side of you.

[@juliaandjoanne]

“the world.. just doesn’t.” nelly the nihilist definitely resonates with me

[@buzzingnoise]

Same.

[@timohaikarainen3957]

yup.. pretty much struggling with existential crisis here.. although jesus answered my prayer with this video.. although i don't quite believe in jesus anymore.. so... it's really weird since i have moved on from christianity to more of a occultist view, which in turn has this flavor of having your "god" as your own creative mind. needless to say it helped and didn't at the same time but at least i can move forward with my art now :D anyone help on explaining what the hell is going on here? :P does my own mind posses power to send me a yt-suggestion?

[@juliaandjoanne]

@@timohaikarainen3957 the universe works in mysterious ways you just have to take the signs and trust them. we all posess that power

[@mariocatalin_]

Okay, I'm really stuck in a world full of 'Nelly', I'm tired ')

[@michaelwoermann7986]

Some of the most meaningful and memorable content I've seen in a while appreciate the effort you put in mate ❤️

[@Alex-kh9ju]

Simplification, without stupification. You are a blessing

[@sarah-janedavies3404]

I chucked this on this morning because I woke up with Nelly the Nihilist screaming why bother at all today, why bother any day. Seeing someone else personify this feeling really helps me feel understood, less depressed and less alone. Thanks so much, I love every one of your videos and always turn to them when I feel low or need help getting inspired to create.

[@mickey_mouse5983]

This is the advice that maters

[@scorpiorat25]

I admit, I'm fighting my negative voices just trying to leave a comment. However long this took you to complete this, thank you. I gotta go back through and take notes. These characters are demons we all face, whether we are artists, entrepreneurs, drivers, parents.... Your illustrations and explanations are spot on. Thank you for taking on the self-help portion of your channel, and being so open, and sharing all the things that make you... you. I'm not an artist, just a grateful self-devo junkie that appreciates how raw and real you are with us. Drawing advice, 5 questions, Burger Shop -- brilliant. This is amazing stuff!

[@Positing_Paraphraser]

1. I greatly admire your work and bravery, you’ve been a reference point to me for a while. Your videos are a safe haven to me I’ve shared with basically everyone I care about. 2. Your Art’s so fucking cool. 3. Some day you’ve got the time, maybe invite the voices one at a time to rant at you, and really hear them. Picture them as the insecurities of a loved one. When we try to understand the voices rather than judge them, we realize they’re scared kids throwing a tantrum. They just need a loving space to calm down. And we can provide that.

[@sufferplenty]

Found you a few days ago and I’m already obsessed. I love how honest you are and how not only do you actually explain problems but you give us tips on how to solve them and also remind us that we’re not the only ones going through whatever it is we’re going through.

[@JosephArning]

is this man an AI? How does he know what im thinking before me? I need answers NOW!!!

[@garancelecat3770]

man, this video is so important. i watched tim's ted talk a few years ago and it almost made me cry because it was so accurate. the feeling of wanting to get something done and being the only thing that keeps yourself from actually getting to do it is so frustrating and i beat myself up on a daily basis because of this. hearing you personify my most self-destructive traits is such a relieving thing. connie the comparer and dave the distractible are actually the things i hate most about myself, but giving them a name and a voice actually helps so much

[@TheRealJuicyDetox]

I can totally relate to the frustration. I can really beat myself up so much too. And every one of these voices personified here are SO FAMILIAR. Constant companions. Yes, powerful and very important video.

[@99eribear]

SAMMEE!!!

[@dani_dan_dan4296]

I believe you did the perfect thing with this topic - giving the negative voices a voice. I've been riddled with self-doubt over being an artist 'anymore' wondering if it's worth the emotional investment, the risk and all of those characters have a million things to say to stop me. I'm really motivated now to personify them now and prove them wrong! Thank you for your unique take on this! Also, your art is so damn charming I love it!!

[@petrap.7256]

Dave the distractible has been my closest pal for years. I actually got distracted reading articles and checking my social networks several times while watching this.

[@mrgngrn]

Dude, those characters are 100% my brain when I do design or apply for jobs. Knowing that someone else is experiencing the same is oddly comforting:)

[@ConsciousConsumer92]

Your candor is so comforting. These inner critics can be so loud and the personification of yours is truly a relief because now so many people know they’re not alone (myself included).

[@janelycardenas6771]

thank you for pushing past resistance and uploading this- 2 yrs later, i’m watching it for the first time, and it’s helping me a ton today… seriously, thank u

[@winterseyfer9056]

This video was exactly what I needed tonight. Really struggling with those inner critic voices lately, getting in the way of true connection with others and my own creative outlets. You’ve inspired me to personify my own inner critics, to make them more manageable. Thank you so much. As a 23 year old, I’m smack dab in the middle of trying to figure all this shit out. Your videos are very relatable and I appreciate them a lot.

[@aranoguera8945]

Came for the drawings. Stayed and binge watched for the advice. It is still weird to me that I feel my struggles so unique to myself, then I watch you braking it down and read comments of many people struggling with the same.

[@annevb6987]

I love your 70% rule. Although I do not see flaws in your videos and work, I do feel your vibe that you don't strive for perfection but to make content that help others. Videos that seem perfect I am barely able to watch because I feel that I need to be in the right flow, the right moment, the exact right concentration. As if I need the circumstances and myself to be perfect to watch a perfect video. And since I never feel this way, I am not really able to watch videos like that, and I feel even less perfect. Your videos make me embrace my imperfectness more :-) And you give really good tips. Thank you!

[@kated442]

That’s the same with me and books/shows. I never feel like I have the mental energy to digest something critically acclaimed, so I stick to mid-range content. Still enjoyable but I’m missing a lot of great stuff if I’m not in the mood

[@karenwerner6560]

I’m a painter. Thank you for what you are doing. I relate to every inner critic you mentioned. Your videos are practical help. Please keep them coming.

[@karenwerner6560]

It would be so great to have your inner critic illustrations on a poster. I’d put it up in my studio.

[@arlojennings7297]

Dude, I feel like this comment will just be white noise because literally every person who watched this had a similar response but thank you. I look at my art a lot and think it's just stupid. I feel like the people who I show my art to are just lying to spare my feelings. I never call myself an artist because any ol person can draw and call it art. Every once in a while I'll ask my mum for paint or color pencils, but it makes me feel fake. I love to paint, but because "I'm not good at it" I don't. I use it as an excuse not to go to art classes, not practice, not try new things because "real artists just have it". I don't know how but I will personify that feeling and try to get better. Thank you so much for this video and please never stop making videos. They mean a lot to me, and even if everyone on earth hated them, they always inspire me, and helping another person out, even if just one, is reason enough to keep on making videos. Thank you! See you next video💚💛💚💛

[@arioctober7867]

Any ole person can draw and call it art, and it is art. Make bad art. That is the only way you will ever make good art. I recommend the book "The Art of Mistakes" by Melanie Rothschild.

[@Ruylopez778]

To quote the writer Dan Harmon, "Stop trying to prove you're a good writer to yourself. That's probably what got you stuck in the first place." Although it's hard, we need to focus on making art. It will be judged (or not) by others, and it's not really anything to do with us, how others judge it.

[@emersongraye3443]

Dude..nobody slid out of the womb painting masterpieces. Even amazing artists sucked once. It is a learned and practiced skill, so if you love to paint, then paint. Fuck what anybody thinks- paint because you love it and the skill will increase with time and practice. ❤

[@caitlynkimura6787]

I spent years not finishing a single painting because I felt like an imposter and not “a real artist”. I guess being at war with yourself is part of being an artist. This comment section has made my inner critics a lot less harsh 😭💜🖤

[@Lizxsiren]

I’m really glad all seven of those personifications didn’t stop you from posting this because it really helped illustrating what goes on in my brain and it really helped. Thank you 💗🥺

[@sweet_t811]

omg, Im a hair stylist and I hear ALL of your inner critics everyday. I thought I was alone. Thank you for this video!

[@Teenangst16]

The amount of companionship this video made me feel was wild, I really am not alone with all these issues. Thank goodness other people have figured out ways to deal with it!!

[@karartistry]

I watched this on the bus ride home because I want to draw when I get in, but I know I’ll get distracted by watching videos on “how to get started” instead of actually starting... thank you for this video, seeing the critics personified, as a visual learner, really really helps! ☺️

[@annaolinova5475]

As an Art therapist in Training, this is absolutely brilliant! I love how self aware you are, how you were able to identify, and personify all the negative voices (in your fantastically twisted illustration style of course). I'm stealing this for myself, and for my students and patients. You just wonderful, and you're content is some of the most valuable I've seen on the interwebs (especially for us fellow creatives), so please tell Nelly to stuff it.

[@seanopenshaw]

Every word of this resonates at volume 10. Thank you for every minute it took you to make this art, your perspective, your conclusion. Brilliant!

[@ClemensAlive]

This channel is better than therapy

[@lEDgendxkills]

I'm watching this video while procrastinating from work. pretty ironic. In all serious though, what a brilliant video, mate. this combined with the introduction to that Tim urban ted talk has given me better outlook on like everything. I've struggled with procrastination and inner critics all my life but especially in this first and second semester at Uni. This will really help. thanks

[@tendainjovu721]

Having anxiety, wanting to be an artist, fighting inner voices, it's all so hard. I loved this video so much I wish I could do more than just like it. Thank you for this 💛

[@MagicTurskimusic]

This is so relatable! Thank you for helping us making our unknown thoughts more tangible and our challenges much easier to overcome. You do make a change to all of us, and for this thank you so much! ALL BEST TO YOU!

[@artworkbybernizzz2654]

Just had a really bad day and literally cried for an hour, then I saw this video popping up. Still crying for the moment but thank you, for helping me when in need.

[@annalealuther]

First of all this video was just amazing! It is something that I have discussed many times with my therapist. But when we talked about these personas in my head I would also have to name at least three supportive ones. Like Carrie the Creative or Ernie the Excited. And whenever I would shut away my critics I would tell my supporters that they could come out, that it’s their time now. That way not only do you lose the voices that tear you down, but you also gain voices that lift you up and filling the process with love and support. Anyways I hope this helps

[@leahcraft569]

this made me tear up I have no idea why

[@moniashek2137]

Omg, I'm totally drawing 'Your art is shit' French Art Critique Eating a Baguette. You are a genius and thank you for everything you do.

[@abracadabra866]

As a French man I am offended by this comment ! Haha

[@moniashek2137]

@@abracadabra866 how’s the baguette? 😂

[@humanbeing-_-_-]

Gosh I have all of these chatterboxes in my brain. Thank goodness for art. Even terrible art. It’s not the finished work that even matters. It’s the *act* of creating that builds you from within.

[@cakevictim]

KZbin told suggested you may have something to tell me, and they were right. Personifying my inner critics really resonates with me, and I thank you for illustrating it so effectively. I too *MAY OR MAY NOT* have done too much acid as a youth and I love your illustrative style, and your self- deprecating humor that comes from a very genuine and helpful place. THANKS MAN!!

[@moxie4973]

Dude your videos (and this one in particular) has been really helping me out. I haven’t drawn or painted in 9 years and Im VERY overwhelmed with all the time and techniques and products and styles. I was becoming really intimidated by it all but you have helped me clear my head and just draw! Thank you so much for helping me and holding my hand like a child hahah

[@KeshArt]

I frekin love your videos dude, it really excites me seeing it in my sub box

[@eking6]

DUDE thank you so much for making this video. This is so relatable and just excellent - we all need to recognize those inner voices that try to censor our work before we even start. You rule.

[@ZoellaFischerVA]

Terry pops up for me all the time! So does Nina, Dave and Hugo. Terry pretty much dismantles most of my working potential and often either makes me do nothing out of sheer fear, or makes me do rushed work out of PANIC.

[@danf.2158]

Hi!! Fellow artist here. I was having the same problem & started giving my negative inner voices faces 2 years ago. It really does help. You're not weird. 😊 I actually went a little further, I created an inner super hero for myself. She looks like me and has all the power to overcome any of those villainous inner voices. 💪🏽 For me, visualizing myself as a hero winning over the negativity, helps too. 😊 I enjoyed the video very much. 👍🏽

[@grimflwr]

no no this is exactly what the world needs from you; even if only 12 ppl were to see/'like' this video, imagine those 12 ppl standing in a room in front of you letting you know your creations resonated with them in some way. That's huge! I, for one, needed this today so thank you times a mil :)

[@mothgdust6729]

this is exactly what i needed to hear in my life right now. how simple of a concept, yet not talked about nearly enough. your drawings are so creative and also extremely relatable. i think i struggle most with Connie the Comparer, and Percy the Perfectionist. 😂 those two work together in my brain and cause so much destruction, making it nearly impossible to complete anything of importance to me. thank you for making this and teaching me that there are several tools i can try in order to move forward and achieve my goals, no matter how big or small.

[@Lav.01231]

I love that “esoteric approach” you took and honestly I think I’ll implement them into my own mindset from now on

[@mardegran]

I’m dealing with all of them, every single one of them.

[@dv6868]

Dude, I feel you! ❤️

[@judithsamuel244]

Wow!Me too!

[@karenwerner6560]

Me too.

[@risingcode3909]

yeah me too

[@IaEnstera]

Likewise. Like a chorus of mice. So, I'm gonna go to the virtual store (in my head) and buy two cases of Mason jars :)

[@noahweinrich6779]

Dude, your points really hit hard. I struggle with all these things-perfectionism in particular (I have struggled immensely with my OCD)-so much so that they constantly prevent me from doing the things I love and make me miserable. I gonna try out some of these techniques and work towards getting past this sense that everything has to be perfect the first time or else “you’re a failure”. I just found your channel and I think you have a lot to say. Keep up the good work and keep making videos!

[@malumalz774]

I am really thankful to you that you overcame all these inner critics and made this video. THANK YOU, i needed this. This is a brilliant idea. Thank you so much.

[@withintheinfinite]

You are a beautiful person for making this video. This type of content is more necessary and useful than 99% of the content on KZbin. Thank you so much!

[@UnlovelyRita]

it's amazing how similar human beings are and how we all struggle with similar things. Among all things, I definitely struggle the most with the nihilist and the distractable in me. Great video! pretty sure I'll get back to it regularly in order to motivate myself. I'm glad I found your channel :)

[@kristaharder3789]

I loved this video so much!! I read Bird by Bird after you recommended it, and it’s such a beautiful book in so many ways (especially that section about people in the nursing home being there to be loved unconditionally, like trees in the winter) That book combined with your videos have really helped me take the pressure off creating (writing, drawing, whatever) and made it fun again. Thank you so much for that. It means the world to me.

[@magnolia2]

You have NO idea how healing this video is for people. Certainly is for me. I appreciate you. Thank you! ♥️✨

[@moonhajung6742]

Dude... I always personify my... everything, I guess. My sad self. My nihilist self. My positive self. My hope. My reality. My time. My disability. My only will to live.... They're all have their own universe and are continuing stories inside my head. They do help.... But never have I thought about turning them into... something I could use to improve my productivity. I did it more for... trying to understand them. And practicing acceptance. And just to tidy up my loud mind, really. To feel good. To feel like I'm in control, at least a little. Thank you for the video. You've always been one of my favorite human on the internet. It's rare for me to be in the mood for self-improvement, but whenever I do, I always visit your channel and take some notes... and actually apply some of them, haha.

[@lyrrrah]

i havent finished watching it and just want to say I LOVE this. my CBT therapist has asked me to do this with my inner critic. I'm doing a PhD and have horrible imposter syndrome, feel like i don't belong, and cry for days after i get tonnes of constructive feedback from my supervisors. i've created a character as well in my head, tried to draw it as well (im not as talented as you!) but sometimes the anxiety is overwhelming and it's hard to focus on fighting/being compassionate (my therapist's advice) towards the character. he also suggested humour in 'fighting' them, which i think you accomplish pretty well. thank you so much for this video.

[@missaltocontralto]

"Thank you for the tragedy. I need it for my art." - Kurt Cobain

[@cristitortosa5706]

I think it's beautiful the fact that you know yourself really well, so you can build a better way to live thanks to that. It's really inspiring.

[@megankoomen6167]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful technique. I am going into the field of art therapy and this activity of drawing each of my negative voices will most definetly be added to my tool box of self exploration. Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing! You are incredible and I love the way that you think about things.

[@MrBeauAnnable]

Mannnnn. This is the most inspiring video I’ve ever watched. I can’t believe how pin-point accurate you are on the personified characters. It was truly like you were inside my head. I understand why you thought this would be too weird or not universally acknowledged, because I thought this was pretty specific to me also. Mind blown. You’re fkn great.

[@bi_cycle]

This really helped me. I'm currently trying to find my 'thing' in regards to writing. I'm trying poetry, scripts for plays, novels, short stories, nothing seems to be working. Watching this video made me realise that I'm going about it wrong. Maybe I should try to write descriptions of my inner critics. Anyway, my point was that this was really beneficial to me in my work. So thank you.

[@shadyworld1]

This channel is a gem man! I'm hocked...one of few ppl who answered my very existential questions been ruining my life!

[@KitsuneHB]

Nina and Percy are really strong in me but I keep fighting them. Thanks for the video! :)

[@curiouskatsayshello4673]

Esoteric videos.. keep them coming please!! I’m totally doing this, What a great concept! ✌🏼

[@eabaggins]

This is what my therapist suggested I do with my life---draw it out. I didn't know how to draw it out, but I kinda have an idea of what I could try now. Thanks :)

[@alexandraaikonika]

Actually drawing ANYTHING can help you with two things simultaneously: 1) you can read your own thoughts from your drawings, no matter how abstract and not conventionally pretty they might be; draw anything from you heart and look into how that drawing explains what state you are in right now 2) the process of drawing soon becomes an actual meditation

[@joubinlee3944]

I just wanna let you know that people are not just being nice to you to make you happy, we all genuinely care about you and your videos, you do wonderful work and we like your weird videos! This was a great one thanks for making it and keep up the great work. I am personally sorry you went though the hardships you did in life, if it helps, I hope you know that you didn’t deserve (ANY of) them.

[@user-qq3hj6pl8o]

not only have you potentially helped me actually do my art portfolio and deeply heal but you’ve also given me idea for drawing for my art portfolio (my inner critic characters) ilysm my guy

[@user-kg5kk3yp5j]

So glad to have seen you double in subscriptions since I found your channel. Beautiful work as always, keep it up man

[@foxgirlmagic4925]

I LOVE THE MESSAGE, THE ART AND YOUR PERSONALITY. Can you make these drawings available for download or purchase? I want to print them out and put them around my art studio. I really needed this message today. I"m going to put my inner critics in mouse jars and use them again themselves! THANK YOU!!!! I'm using your videos as therapy sessions.

[@p3bco]

I identify with these ideas so much. I think you've given me some useful coping tools. Thank you for sharing. Thank for your honesty.

[@gardenfork]

Cam I’m reading your book and as soon as you said personification, I realized why you put the different characters in the book. Then you drew the characters in this vid. Light bulb moment for me. Thank you my friend. 😀 Eric.

[@June_sculpts]

God why can’t you be my therapist... you just perfectly put everything that goes on in my head!