Silencing the inner critic with visiting teacher Gen Kelsang Lhachog

Meditation Workshop – Kadampa Meditation Centre Brisbane

Sunday 27 September | 10am-2.30pm | $70 (includes morning tea)

A Meditation Workshop for Quieting Self-Doubt and Building Genuine Confidence

Do you ever feel like you’re your own worst critic?

Replaying conversations.
Focusing on mistakes.
Feeling like nothing you do is quite good enough.

It’s exhausting — and very common.

Many of us live with a quiet inner voice that questions us, criticises us, or makes us feel we are not good enough. This can show up as self-doubt, discouragement, overthinking, negative self-perception, or a painful habit of comparing ourselves to others. Over time, these self-critical thoughts can limit our confidence, affect our relationships, and hold us back from living with a sense of ease and purpose.

But these thoughts are not who we are — and we do not have to keep believing them.

In this meditation workshop, we will explore practical Buddhist wisdom and guided meditations that help us understand where self-critical thoughts come from, why they feel so convincing, and how we can begin to let them go.

By learning to recognise these painful mental habits clearly, we can stop following them and gradually replace them with more peaceful, encouraging and realistic ways of thinking.

Learn how to feel better about yourself

Buddha’s teachings explain that our experience of ourselves depends upon the thoughts and views we hold in our mind. When our mind is influenced by discouragement or self-criticism, we can feel limited, inadequate or stuck. But when we learn to relate to ourselves with wisdom and kindness, our confidence naturally begins to grow.

This is not about pretending to be someone we are not, or forcing ourselves to think positively. It is about discovering a deeper and more stable basis for self-confidence — one that comes from understanding our potential for inner change.

Through meditation and practical reflection, we can learn how to say no to discouraging thoughts, stop believing self-critical views, and develop a calmer, kinder and more confident way of thinking.

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to:

• Let go of constant self-criticism
• Stop overthinking and replaying the past
• Recognise self-critical thoughts without believing them
• Understand how discouragement undermines confidence
• Replace painful mental habits with more constructive ways of thinking
• Develop a stable basis for genuine self-confidence and self-esteem
• Feel more confident, peaceful and at ease
• Live in a way that helps you awaken your full potential

These are simple, practical methods you can start using straight away.

What to expect

The day is designed to feel relaxed, welcoming and easy to follow. It will include short teachings, guided meditations and time to reflect, with everything explained clearly and practically.

You do not need any experience of meditation or Buddhism. The workshop is suitable for complete beginners, as well as those who already meditate but would like to work more deeply with self-doubt, discouragement or self-critical habits.

There is nothing you need to get right — just come as you are, listen, reflect, and take what is helpful.

A small step that can make a real difference

Rather than being controlled by the inner critic, we can learn to relate to ourselves in a wiser and more compassionate way. Gradually, we can develop the inner strength and confidence to live with greater peace, purpose and joy.

These workshops are usually small and tend to fill as the date approaches.

If you’re thinking of coming, it’s best to book your place now.