We’re usually our own toughest critic. That can be a good thing. It’s helpful to hold ourselves to a high standard, always asking ‘How can I make this better?’ That self criticism is what keeps us improving, hopefully. The other extreme, overconfidence— being overly satisfied with everything we do—can be as big a problem as being self-critical, and it makes a student unteachable.

Gabriel Cornelius Ritter von Max (1840-1915),
who actually lived with a family of monkeys

At the same time, don’t be so hard on yourself that you avoid taking risks. We all need to take satisfaction in our successes and in our experimental attempts, even if they don’t work out the way we had hoped. You don’t have to show anyone your duds. Paint over them or put them on the Gallery Flambeau. 

So should we shut off our inner critic? OK, temporarily if that helps you get into the flow. But keep your critic nearby. You’ll need that voice to guide the flow in the right direction.