How to Silence Your Inner Critic
When I worked behind the scenes in professional sport, one of the most striking things I saw was how top performers managed their inner dialogue. The difference between thriving and struggling often came down to how well they handled that critical inner voice.
Your inner critic — that voice in your head telling you you’re not good enough or can’t do it — can be your biggest obstacle. But it doesn’t have to control you.
RecogniSe the Critic
The first step is awareness. When that negative voice appears, pause and notice what it’s saying without judgment. Recognizing these thoughts is powerful because it puts you in control rather than letting the voice run your mindset.
Challenge and Reframe
Next, challenge that voice. Ask yourself:
Is this thought really true?
What evidence do I have?
How would I support a friend who said this to themselves?
Then reframe it with kindness and facts. Instead of “I’m terrible at this,” try “I’m learning and improving every day.” This rewiring takes time but dramatically changes how you feel and perform.
Practical Tools I Use
I encourage journaling, where you write down critical thoughts and consciously reframe them. Affirmations and power phrases also help shift your mindset.
If managing your inner critic feels overwhelming, my Self Belief Reset includes specific tools and exercises to help you quiet that voice and build unshakable confidence.
The Self Belief Reset is your powerful workbook designed to help you: Let go of the doubts that are holding you back Reconnect with your strengths, values and wins Build unstoppable momentum from the inside out Hit the 'sign up' button to go through to the payment section