We all have that voice.
You know the one, whispering doubts right before you take a risk. Questioning your every move. Highlighting your flaws with laser precision. For the longest time, my inner voice sounded more like a relentless critic than a source of wisdom.
“You're not ready.”
“Why would anyone care what I have to say?”
“Someone else could do this better.”
Sound familiar?
I used to think the only solution was to silence it. Push it down. Drown it out with positive affirmations and hustle harder. But the truth? That voice wasn’t trying to hurt me. It was trying to protect me, just in all the wrong ways.
Understanding the Inner Critic
Your inner critic is a survival mechanism. It's that ancient part of the brain wired to scan for danger, failure, and rejection. It wants you to stay small, because small feels safe. It wants you to avoid risk, because risk feels threatening.
The problem is, growth lives in risk. Purpose requires vulnerability. And progress? It demands discomfort.
So if you’re always battling your inner critic, you’re also battling your potential.
The Turning Point
Everything shifted when I stopped asking, “How do I shut this voice up?”
And started asking, “What is this voice trying to protect me from?”
Instead of pushing it away, I got curious. I noticed patterns. I wrote down the things my inner critic said and questioned them, not with judgment, but with compassion.
Here’s what I discovered: behind every harsh thought was a buried fear. And behind that fear? An opportunity for growth.
That’s when I stopped treating my inner critic like an enemy... and started training it to become my coach.
How to Turn Your Inner Critic Into Your Inner Coach
If you’re tired of feeling held back by your inner dialogue, here are three powerful steps that helped me flip the script:
1. Listen Without Judgment
Instead of shutting down the critical thoughts, pause and listen. Write them down. Ask yourself: What fear is this voice expressing? What is it trying to prevent?
You’ll often find it’s not about laziness or self-sabotage, it’s about fear of failure, rejection, or not being enough.
2. Challenge and Reframe
Once you understand the root of the thought, talk back, but kindly. For example:
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“You're not ready.” → “What would make me feel more ready?”
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“Why try if I might fail?” → “What might I learn even if I do?”
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“Others do it better.” → “What unique perspective do I bring?”
This is how you shift from self-criticism to self-coaching.
3. Train the Voice to Uplift You
Like any coach, your inner voice can learn to offer encouragement, strategy, and accountability. But it takes repetition. Celebrate small wins. Speak to yourself like someone you’re responsible for taking care of. Over time, the tone changes.
You move from being your own worst critic… to becoming your own best ally.
Final Thoughts
Your inner critic isn’t the villain of your story, it’s just playing an outdated role. But with attention, compassion, and practice, you can teach that voice to serve a new purpose.
Because when you stop battling yourself and start backing yourself, You don’t just find your voice. You use it. Loudly. Unapologetically. Powerfully.
Cheers,
Coach Jo <3
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