Are You Your Own Worst Critic? 

What a beautiful message! The critic says that we are our failures, but the coach, the Holy Spirit, raises us up, encourages us to keep striving, and gives us peace. Thank you for this!

Thank you, Fr. Mike.

Like your show. I'm not a Catholic. Question , why do I not get any verbal help from the creators of these videos if I ask a question, like Do I have a chance to obtain The Lords mercy and forgiveness if I'm not a Catholic. I don't take the Holy Eucharist. I thank God for his word he finally got me to read at age 62 in 2016. He has some awesome timing. I'm glad. So what you say and thanks. Oh, Don't be put off by the handle I use for some channels. I wasn't thinking when I thought it up.

I pray every day that I can overcome my past failures and stop listening to the critic in my head.

Father Mike. As a non catholic, you have helped me more than anyone on this earth. God Bless you sir

I’m not the critic of myself but mom was. I’m the parent that loved me and helped (with God) get past the hurt. You asked why do I keep the critic in my life. Beside no choice, hah, she gave me the greatest gift. She didn’t practice her Catholic faith except in one marvelous way. She kept me in Catholic schools for 8 years at a financial sacrifice. She set my foot on the path to God. She wasn’t the model but she provided the models. In her strange way she saved me. It took a long time to see that even not so good people in our lives are moved by God to do great things. I am thankful for her.

I'm not convinced that I NEED the critic. I just can't get the critic to STOP.

The critic in me has never helped, always made things much worse, almost like teaching despair. An old priest explained to me as a kid that the voice that was accusing me all the time wasn't God, that it was the voice of the other guy.

It's a martyr's day in uganda today celebrating our heroes

Father Mike, thank you so much. You have no idea how much this applies to me right now. I feel like this video was sent by God to me I feel like there IS hope now. God bless you, thank you.

Fr. Mike I don't recall giving you permission to call my 16 year old self out like that 😅😆😆😆

Why is it so much easier to accept negativity rather than positivity? I accept negative thoughts from my brain more quickly than the positive ones. #askfrmike

Blessings from Belize, Father Mike. You are an awesome teacher.

This is the video that I need after going through a phase of thinking that I'm not good enough and comparing myself to others. Thank you Fr Mike!

At the back of my mind when he does his homilies I’m thinking “Captain America “ he is a superhero and Jesus is the Superhero who can save everyone. Greetings from Britain

Thanks FR. Mike, the Holy Spirit truly talk though you. Thank Jesus, for the gift of priests

I have been living with this critic in my head for such a long time without realizing that it was a horrible thing. Thank you for this video; please pray for me so that I might have this critic removed and replaced with the Holy Spirit that encourages me instead of condemns.

Once again he’s made a video that I exactly needed to hear at the moment. The critic in my head is destroying me at my new job because I have no idea what I’m doing

Holy Spirit is a tireless coach, who prepares to take control of one's life to make progress.

Satan, from the Greek, Satanos,"The Accuser". That wicked unhelpful critic has a NAME. We have a great defense attorney in our side. He says, "I think she's wonderful. She's worth EVERYTHING to me. Worth dying for. In fact, I did die for her." Someone I love and miss taught me that-Fr Bill Baer (I know you knew him, too. I was blessed to have him as my priest in Oakdale.).. I have no doubt he's in heaven, but Fr Mike? Can you say a blessing for him anyway? He always said not to canonize him right away-he needed the prayers. 😍

"When has the critic ever actually helped?"... well said Fr. Mike! I gotta slap down my critic from time-to-time. he will rear his head when my guard is down.

Can I ask y catholic nuns and priest were so mean way back then towards aboriginals why did they not know love and the ten commandments why father Mike why??

Just experienced a critic vs. Coach moment yesterday druing my prayer time, and dang! Fr. Mike's new video is on that! I mean how cool is God's timing?!

I needed to hear this.. thanks Fr Mike.. God bless you..

I needed to hear this! Thank you! The Critic only frustrates me more, and sends me in a downward spiral. I get to the point of thinking "Why even try? I will just fail." How can you silence this? Or how to ask the Holy Spirit to be louder? In any case. Thank you I needed to hear this message. God Bless!

Thank you Fr Mike for your words of wisdom! May the Holy Spirit continue to work in you, that you may always be a powerful and inspirational disciple of Christ leading us to walk in God’s light. God bless 🙏🏽

Thank you fr Schmidt for this .Spot on

So powerful. Theres one more element of the critic...ourselves. I struggle with self criticism, a blatant attack of Satan.

This was sitting in my recommendations since you posted this, but I was avoiding this video, lol. I needed to watch this though, the critic in my head is brutal, constantly tearing me down. I needed to listen to this so much. Ty

Fr Mike always on point with your messages. may the Holy Spirit continue to enlighten you with the messages we need 🙏🏻

I was watching this video just because. Never in a million years would I have connected this to me. "You've fallen, just lay there" man oh man oh man wow

This video was so needed in my heart and every heart. God bless you, Fr. Mike.

Thank you so much for this clarity in the “voices”, Father. Come, Holy Spirit. 🙏🕊

my inner critic .. is my Ego... the Ego is not my Amigo!

I get the bible in a year easily and can see everything. I am having a HARD time getting the same lay out for the catechism in a year. I got #1 and do not see the line up for the reat of catechism in a year.

Thank you so much Fr.Mike for this wonderful message. I felt like it was for me in particular. Looking back at my day today there are so many times I was a critic to myself. I'm definitely going to work on getting the critic's voices out of my head and work with that of the convictor.

This is a very important video. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.

Please answer me this : how can you be sure it’s God , Jesus , or the Holy Ghost that Is speaking to me & not satan ?

A day in my head is like the Disney movie inside out😂 except it’s really not funny😣

the critic is the accuser?

How to talk about the devil without mentioning it. Thanks father Mike

Thanks so much Father! This was truly a message for me. God bless you🙏

So hard when people in your life ...tell you ... you failed & didn’t measure up. Their love is conditional. Then the critic in you amplifies it. So painful to find your friends don’t know what love is.

I am my worst critic & I need it to stop now!

I'd like to rate this 5-star as well as like it !!!

God bless you Fr Mike aka coach Mike :) , I pray that the Holy Spirits continues to convict you to help/coach others including me :) to grow closer to Christ in His perfection not mine. Amen.

This is a perfect message to share with my 12 yr old son. I appreciate the teachings you grace us with. Thank you

Beautiful message

Father Mike Thank you for everything you do your videos are very inspiring and greatly needed, God bless you.

WOW!!! I was literally thinking about this (the "critic" in my head) for the past few days! Thanks, Fr. Mike!

What’s a thought that lives in your head rent free?

I am going back into a field of work where I have failed numerous times,but God keeps opening these doors.I beat myself up mercilessly,I needed this message,thank you Lord Jesus

When I decided to write down all that the critic said in my head, I lasted 20 minutes. I wouldn't allow anyone to talk to me this way so why do I harm my soul this way? It took me about a year to forgive myself.

This video helped provide a clarity I seriously needed in my life. I went from despair, confusion, and borderline self-loathing to grinning from ear to ear because I see my position, a destination, and even a potential path into God's grace. This understanding was the missing piece I needed, and I am convinced the Holy Spirit likes to work through the algorithm recommending these videos to people. Thank you, and God bless. ❤

God bless you Fr Mike thank you!

Huh

Thank u Father Mike 💫 The coach our God will never give up on us.🌠 God will always send the Holy Spirit to give us hope and strength in our life🌻🕊

I want Christ’s merciful love too

Thanks Fr Mike...... You're amazing, wish you uploaded your Sunday Homilies too...... God bless yall.... Love from India.

Beautiful message! Thank you Fr. Mike Schmitz! I feel like we all need to remember to not be so hard on ourselves as God has created us gentle and beautiful creatures needed of love not a voice that puts us down. Gods love and voice can only help us overcome our struggles and become the best-version-of-ourselves.

How did you know 🥺😮

💙 Thank you! it's an important topic for all of us. Self compassion is needed, having faith that God believes in us and will cheer us on to a safer and joyful place (keep your heart rooted in God) 💙

Well, I needed that and the timing couldn’t have been better.

I really needed to see this. Thank you

Amen

I so needed this today. Thanks Fr Mike

Thank you for saving me from myself. I need the coach; the critic only hurts me. Thank you Holy Spirit. Praise be to God 🕊️🤍♥️

Thank you

I have been struggling for many years with that inner critic, and a lot more these past few months. But for about the past week, I am finally hearing a soft voice of encouragement. When I mess up, I hear, “Okay, what can you do differently tomorrow to be better and reach your goals?” Instead of, “Well, you did it again and screwed everything up. There is no point trying because it is what it is and that’s just who you are. You will never learn.” But I give all the glory to God because He is my creator and all loving father.

The critic is an ex husband who was abusive.. I have an occasional problem with hearing “I am worthless “ thank you so much, God is great

I'm not sayin this in an angry, depressed or bitter way, but it would have been better, infinitely more loving of God if I hadn't been born. Objectively, I had no real possibility for success, happiness, to thrive.

WHAT A GREAT DISTINCTION BETWEEN CRITIC AND CONVICTOR - I neesed this . Thank God for the Way that the Holy Spirit has inspired you Fr Mike.

🌺On top of this, Father, social media if FILLED with complaints and criticisms. Young people, in particular, could be unduly influenced by it. Thank you! 💖🙏🇺🇸

I really needed this message today. Thank you! 🙏

Father,I am struggling to get to confession it's been over 40years.what would I possibly day to the priest! How do you confess 40 years of sin.thank you

Father.Thank You.this day in the church we have Day of Sacrado Corazon de Jesús. I am so Happy .I can hidden in him.

Oh yeah, that critic. B*stard. Some days, all I'm doing is responding to him. "You're incredibly boring," he says, and the answer is "Well, these people you like very much, they just invited me to a picnic last Friday!" "They're morons," the critic says. "You're a real bad judge of character," is the response. "They have accomplished all these really great things [and then a list the things they've done, like moving halfway across the world, finding a job, do an awesome job, learn a very different language, raise a family, etc.]. They wouldn't want you around if you had nothing to offer." On and on it goes. What does the critic sound like? Well, he sounds like me. What do the answers sound like? I like to think she's a librarian, a middle-aged woman in a turtleneck sweater, wearing glasses, hair done up in a bun.

And good luck finding a place where everyone are meant to learn

I usually pray, ask God what i need and wait because I don't want to be anxious as Jesus said not to be. Then, there is this voice inside me always that makes me unworthy like why would God does that for you? I spend all my time fighting that and I feel like my faith is weak even though I know it is not. I hope it makes sense. Thank you for reading this and fr. Mike may God continues to increase your faith

Aren't we all? 🙄 But others are trigger catalyst. 😏 2:53 What about constructive criticism? 😐

Thank you for sharing this message of hope in the Holy Spirit, Fr. Mike! I had been struggling with negative self talk for a couple months because I was afraid of failing. Things finally turned around when I surrendered the outcomes of my work (past, present, and future) to the Lord. Since then, the Holy Spirit has been guiding me with a more hopeful perspective 🙌

Me: idk, sometimes I need it to motivate/keep me in check...? Father Mike: when has the critic ever helped you? Me: *can't actually think of a single instance* ope 😅 another great video, Father!

Thank you so much for this video! My critics are not myself but outsiders who did not have the ambition to extend their education to prosper financially. The mindset that I have is to continue to learn. You are never too old to learn and prosper financially, spiritually and mentally. Therefore, I failed at one course of study and picked myself up by the boot straps; I moved to another study. What I thought was a sin in defending ones honor and found out it is not a sin to standup for yourself. I mean in regards to wanting to learn new information and not become stagnant in life. Just because one person can retire at an early age, say late 40s or early 50s; it is not the same for the other person. Also, I do not see it as a failure to own a business and hand it over to another person. I do not see it as a failure to re-invent yourself due to the economic times! I call that Brilliant! God is the ultimate coach! He will always point the way to where he intended for you to go. Sometimes one will do what their will is to find out that God's will is always first. When you do find this out, one will see they are truly happy. I found a course of study that makes me truly happy. How many people can say they are happy with their career or job they are performing! Me! Thank you Jesus!!

Hello again Father Mike. Thank you for telling me about the vision you have experienced about me. I could not donate to the charity you said but I made sure to donate around my community. Sorry if that was not what was meant. I have fallen so far away from God a month after my first year of Bible school and have become filled with anger instead of love for others around me who treat me poorly. I was given good advice from a friend to read a lament psalm and to pray after reading. I want to ask what you think I should do in this time of grief and anger?

The "critic" in my case, was the Holy Spirit that led to my reversion back to the Faith! Otherwise, the critic is my own personal bully. 🙄

God Bless You Fr. Mike, I have been listening to my inner critic too much. It has been leading to depressive ruminations. I realize now I need to take back my mind and realize my dignity as God’s beloved son.

Once you allow the Holy Spirit to come into your life, you 2ill be changed forever. The prayer Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of the faithful and enkindle within the fire of your love. You may be depressed . if so, go see your doc..

Thanks! my life is such a mess, the critic has been a constant companion. Now, I realize that what I need to do is give myself up to God and listen to the ultimate coach, the Holy Spirit.

The critic is my mother and has been for about 66 years. And 66 years and she will tell you this to your face. I have been a major disappointment to her. She would remind me to tell you that I was her oldest child, which I am and that she pinned all her hopes and dreams on me and I have consistently let her down I don’t need to get down on myself. I got a voice in my head 24 seven and it isn’t doing me any good. Fortunately therapy and psych drugs help a great deal.

It truly does feel like being enslaved in your own head😣 with a tyrant managing your every move. The critic has so much influence in my life and I’ve come to realize that it has stolen my happiness countless times. I often live unsatisfied with life because the critic says that it is never enough. As if there is always a missing piece that I need to find. It has made it so difficult to live in the present moment because I’m stuck on reaching this ideal. The ideal itself is good, but the voice of the critic steals my energy, my joy and my piece😣. Father Mike, thank you for being like a spiritual director to me. I’ve never met you but you have been so influential in my journey. Thank you for being you and for all you give🙏🏼❤️

What do you do when the critic in your head also have family members who reinforce the criticism by what they say to you? Or family criticize you and you become critical of yourself? I’ve be battling that all my life. The only comforting voice and source of support is God

Yes father Mike I'm My Own monster I don't like working but I asked Jesus Christ what should I do should i go back to work or not stay-home doing nothing but I want please God and Jesus Christ but i hope they know I'm trying to do good

father mike is so right with the things he says. the critic doesnt help. he imprisons me in the past. there Was a time where everything was fine and i got so far. but all of that for nothing. now the critic reminds me how beautiful the past was and of all the things i have done wrong to ruin it. the critic tells me if something from now on All things are going to get worse. and all that is left is that i live in my positive memories instead of maybe working on myself and changing the situation. the critic doesnt improve me he imprisons me. like father mike said we need the holy spirit to set us free. this is the truth.

Criticizing myself made me lose weight and helped beat my porn addiction

My critic always cusses at me and calls me obscene names.

Hey Fr. Mike i have this weird thing going on were i have a Saint book and i ask God three questions what life he wants me to lead usually the page lands on Bishop, Priest and/or Martyr and is it just a coincidence or God telling me what to do?

My inner critic was nourished and created by my family. I have to unlearn that voice, because in 3 years I will be 70 years old, if I live.

I have gotten rid of those people in my life, except myself...The hardest part.

Your words can be especially helpful to those who suffer from clinical depression and need a person to lift them up.

I had a rugby coach who understood this concept well. He drilled this speech by Teddy Roosevelt into our brains. It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena. Who’s face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.