EP 49 - Moving Beyond Habitual Criticism as an Intuitive Founder

EP 49 - Moving Beyond Habitual Criticism as an Intuitive Founder

This episode picks up where I left off last week. In the previous episode, I explored what habitual criticism is, why many intuitive founders develop it, and how it can impact us negatively. In this episode, I move from awareness to practice. I share a simple 3-step practice for shifting habitual criticism without giving up your critical thinking skills. Drawing from my own experiences and the thought work framework I teach, I explore how to relate to criticism with more compassion and intention so that it becomes a tool you use on purpose rather than a habit that runs on autopilot. You'll hear: * Why moving beyond habitual criticism is not about suppressing your opinions or lowering your standards. * How self-compassion can help you change deeply ingrained patterns more effectively than shame. * Why the urge to criticize is often connected to difficult emotions that we are trying to avoid feeling. * How pausing to feel discomfort can weaken criticism's grip on your attention over time. * Questions to help you uncover the motivation behind your criticism and decide whether acting on it is truly serving you. * How asking for consent before offering feedback can create healthier relationships and more intentional communication. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WWW.Roxanaakhbari.com⁠ [www.RoxanaAkhbari.com]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access my other free coaching resources or to book a free consultation call to explore how we can work together. If you find value in what you hear, the best way to support this podcast is to follow the show wherever you listen, leave a review, and share it with others. While it takes only a few seconds, it makes a big difference in helping others access this free resource.

EP 48 - Is Being Critical Helping or Harming You?

Many intuitive founders are highly perceptive and aware of what could go wrong. While these qualities can help us make thoughtful decisions and prevent problems, they can also turn into a habit of chronic criticism that disconnects us from joy and appreciation for what is already good and available to us. In this episode, I unpack what it actually means to be habitually critical, why so many of us develop this tendency, and how it can begin to backfire when it becomes our brain’s default way of relating to ourselves, other people, and life. Drawing from my own experiences transitioning out of academia, dating again, and supporting clients through major life transitions, I unpack major reasons why we might become habitually critical and how it might be costing us more than we think. You’ll hear: * Why being critical is not inherently bad—and why whether it is helping or harming you is ultimately up to you to decide. * How negativity bias, family dynamics, professional training, and sensitivity can reinforce habitual criticism. * How chronic criticism can disconnect us from joy, trust, creativity, and appreciation for what is already working. * How habitual criticism often turns inward into self-criticism. * Simple reflection questions to help you notice when your brain spirals into habitual criticism. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WWW.Roxanaakhbari.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access my other free coaching resources or to book a free consultation call to explore how we can work together. If you find value in what you hear, the best way to support this podcast is to follow the show wherever you listen, leave a review, and share it with others. While it takes only a few seconds, it makes a big difference in helping others access this free resource.

EP 47 - How To Change Your Current Limiting Thoughts

In the past few episodes on thought work as a PROCESS, I unpacked why rushing to change your thoughts backfires, why learning to feel negative emotions matters, and how to approach relapses to old thought patterns with more compassion and intentionality. In this episode, I explore a crucial next step in the thought work process: how to actually change your current limiting thoughts when your brain strongly resists new empowering ones. This is something intuitive founders often struggle with—especially when old thoughts have become deeply familiar mental patterns over time. I introduce a powerful coaching tool called the thought ladder and explain how sustainable mindset shifts happen incrementally, not through forcing yourself to believe thoughts that feel fake or disconnected from your current reality. You’ll hear: * Why your brain cannot simply “stop” thinking long-held limiting thoughts on command. * How the thought ladder tool helps you shift your mindset incrementally instead of forcing positive thoughts that feel fake. * What “middle thoughts” are and how to choose thoughts your brain can actually believe. * How to practice new thoughts consistently so they become stronger neural pathways over time. * How the thought ladder connects with radical acceptance and the “yes, and” mindset for more sustainable emotional and cognitive change. I also share important updates about wrapping up Season 1 of the show soon, future plans for Season 2, and ways for intuitive founders to stay connected and potentially participate in future conversations on the show. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WWW.Roxanaakhbari.com [http://www.roxanaakhbari.com]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access my other free coaching resources or to book a free consultation call to explore how we can work together. If you find value in what you hear, the best way to support this podcast is to follow the show wherever you listen, leave a review, and share it with others. While it takes only a few seconds, it makes a big difference in helping others access this free resource.

EP 46 - Re-post: Burnout Reset for Intuitive Founders

I’m re-sharing this earlier episode because burnout doesn’t always come from doing work you hate. Many intuitive founders are building businesses they deeply care about — and still sometimes find themselves exhausted, overwhelmed, and emotionally flooded. In this episode, I unpack how burnout is not just about workload, but also about nervous system overwhelm, isolation, and the thought patterns that keep us stuck in pressure and self-judgment. I explore how you can begin to reset burnout with more awareness, support, and self-trust. You’ll learn: * How burnout can show up emotionally, mentally, and physically. * Why pushing through often intensifies burnout. * How to process overwhelm through nervous system awareness and emotional regulation. * The common thought patterns that fuel burnout — and how to begin shifting them. * The role of co-regulation in recovering from burnout. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WWW.Roxanaakhbari.com [WWW.Roxanaakhbari.com] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to access my other free coaching resources or to book a free consultation call to explore how we can work together. If you find value in what you hear, the best way to support this podcast is to follow the show wherever you listen, leave a review, and share it with others. While it takes only a few seconds, it makes a big difference in helping others access this resource.

EP 45 - The PROCESS of Thought Work for Intuitive Founders #3

In the past 2 parts of this mini series on thought work as a PROCESS, I unpacked how rushing to change your thoughts backfires and why learning to feel our negative emotions is just as important as learning to shift the thoughts that create them. In this final episode of the mini series, I explore what happens when old thoughts and emotional patterns resurface after we think we’ve already worked through them. It happens to intuitive founders all the time; following our calling naturally brings us to new emotional territories that'd make us relapse into our old thought patterns. I unpack why relapses are a normal part of thought work, why shaming ourselves for them creates more suffering, and how to approach these moments as opportunities for deeper growth instead of proof of failure. You’ll hear: * Why relapses often happen during stressful times. * Why self-judgment about relapses makes handling them harder and disconnects us from noticing our actual growth. * How to measure your progress beyond “eliminating” negative thoughts for ever. * A simple 3-step approach to navigating relapses with more compassion and intentionality. * Why ongoing support through coaching matters in sustainable thought work. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WWW.Roxanaakhbari.com [WWW.Roxanaakhbari.com] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to access my other free coaching resources or to book a free consultation call to explore how we can work together. If you find value in what you hear, the best way to support this podcast is to follow the show wherever you listen, leave a review, and share it with others. While it takes only a few seconds, it makes a big difference in helping others access this resource.