Exercise: “Do You Censor Yourself?”

What you will get out of this

One of the subtle ways we get in our own way is by developing a habit of censoring ourselves. Filtering and censoring our raw thoughts can be useful in some settings, but can also be getting in our way. Recognizing and acknowledging how censoring our raw thoughts might be getting in our way is the first step to overcoming this habit.

This exercise helps us take a step back and examine our relationship with our inner censor.

An example of this exercise at work

Step 1: How Often Do You Edit Your Thoughts Before Speaking?

Take 5 minutes to reflect on instances from the past month when you filtered your thoughts or altered what you wanted to say in order not to offend or upset someone. There might be situations where you kept waiting for the right moment to express yourself, or got entangled in fears about potential negative outcomes. Jot down these instances.

Step 2: What Surprises Emerge When You Let Your Mind Wander Freely?

Take a minute and spontaneously list down at least twenty current wishes you have. These can be personal (for instance, 'I wish my skin was less oily'), related to your community ('I wish my neighborhood had more dog-friendly spaces'), or any other topic. The key here is to have fun and let your thoughts flow freely. As you jot down your wishes privately and without overthinking, you'll bypass the urge to censor yourself.

After this quick, whimsical writing spree, take a look at what you've written. Are you surprised by any of your wishes? Would your list look different if you spent more time on it or if you knew others were going to read it?

Step 3: Reflect - Do You Tend to Censor Yourself?

By now, you've hopefully gained a better understanding of your tendencies towards self-censorship. Is this an area where you're getting in your own way? Spend some time articulating your thoughts in a few sentences.