Imagine that you are on trial because you did not to attend an all-employee meeting. In our mock trial, your ego is your defense attorney and your inner critic is the prosecuting attorney.
Your defense attorney (ego) stands before the jury of your peers and makes an impassioned plea for your innocence. “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury – it is not my client’s fault that he was unable to attend the all-employee meeting. The announcement for the meeting was sent out too late for my client to change his schedule. On top of that, the last three all-employee meetings that my client has attended have been duds. With boring speakers and endless PowerPoint presentations, these meetings are a real waste of my client’s precious time. He’s far too busy! My client was fully justified in not attending this meeting and I demand you find him innocent!”
Next, the prosecuting attorney (inner critic), rises from his chair and makes his impassioned plea for the jury to find you guilty. “Esteemed members of the jury. What a great story the defendant is telling himself. The defendant is one of the most disorganized individuals this officer of the court has even seen. He forgot to schedule the all-employee meeting in his calendar. His organization skills are so bad, he does not deserve to be in this courtroom today. On top of that, he hates socializing with his colleagues – he never knows what to say and is always afraid he is going to say something stupid. What a loser! I demand you find the defendant guilty!”
