Any self-help book recommendations on silencing an "inner critic"?

[Maastricht]

Here's my problem. Anyone know a book (or term) to go with it?

Whenever I get something done, I have this reflex: "It wasn't that hard, I should have done it better, and sooner". Or: "Anyone could have done that, so I shouldn't have had trouble with it, I'm So Intelligent after all".

It don't have the kind of inner critic that belittles me personally, I don't tell myself I am ugly or a loser or anything like that. It is just about my efforts, which should always be better then they are.

I am a psychologist, but it took me 40 year to see it like that. All those years I thought my inner critic was right, was just telling an uncomfortable truth! Of course I could have worked harder, done more. Look what I accomplished when I finally stopped procrastinating the night before any exam and got to work. But hope sprang eternal, and I told myself that I would do better in the future.

Then a mid-life crisis set in, I had a kid, had no time anymore, and all I could do was half-assing everything even more then before and hoping to get by. Forced to admit that no, I am not going to live up to my potential anytime soon, I could either admit that maybe my standards are too high, or I could get out the mental whip and start flogging my self. Which is painful, and also, ew.

So, any how-to guides on this?

[Merneith]

You might look into cognitive behavior therapy. It's designed to do exactly what you want - shut up that inner critic. I've had a lot of success with it but of course, each of us is different.

Feeling Good the New Mood Therapy is, despite its dippy name, a well known book that gives a good explanation of what CBT is and practical ways you can implement it in your life. It's a pretty easy read, too. It was first published in 1980 and it's still relevant today.
http://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-Therapy-Revised-Updated/dp/0380810336/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305281903&sr=8-1

You might also consider the books by Albert Ellis. Ellis did the initial work on which CBT was based.

[olivesmarch4th]

A very simple and effective book for me: There is Nothing Wrong With You (http://www.amazon.com/There-Nothing-Wrong-You-Self-Hate/dp/0971030901) by Cheri Huber. It's a quick read but for me it can really help turn my attitude around. Huber is a Zen teacher, so it definitely has a Buddhist orientation, but not explicitly so, just in terms of the ideas presented.

Good luck fighting your inner critic. It can be a lifelong battle.

ETA: Strongly second either David Burns or Ellis for CBT. Ellis is a little hardcore in his approach, though... maybe not what you're looking for when you're already feeling vulnerable to criticism.

[Antigen]

Feeling Good the New Mood Therapy is, despite its dippy name, a well known book that gives a good explanation of what CBT is and practical ways you can implement it in your life. It's a pretty easy read, too. It was first published in 1980 and it's still relevant today.
http://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-Therapy-Revised-Updated/dp/0380810336/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305281903&sr=8-1

Seconded. It's not necessarily easy, but you can retrain your thoughts. I also recommend the "Feeling Good Handbook" to go along with it, but read the other book first so you can really understand what you're doing.