Liberating the inner critic: how to transform selfishness into self-control
Do you remember the last time you listened to your inner voice? Not the one that keeps criticising and doubting, but the one that really supports and encourages you. If you're shaking your head because you don't know the last time you heard that voice, you're in the right place.
In my twenty-five years of leadership experience, I have encountered countless leaders and entrepreneurs who, to the outside observer, were successful in every way, yet struggled with an enemy within: their own inner critic. This voice, which constantly questions your decisions, minimises your achievements and magnifies your failures, is often a bigger obstacle to progress than any external circumstance.
The internal critic is not an enemy - simply a badly programmed ally. Today you'll learn how to transform this voice from self-doubt to self-control and harness its power for your real growth.
1. The true face of the inner critic: protector or destroyer?
The inner critic is originally a protective role in our lives. As children, it helped us avoid danger, taught us to adapt to our environment and protected us from rejection. But as we grew up, this voice often became over-protective.
Coaching experience: The CEO of an IT company approached the CoachLab team because he was unable to make decisions about starting new projects. All his ideas were immediately dismissed by his inner voice: "It's too risky", "You're not experienced enough", "What if you fail?" In reality, however, he had twenty years of professional experience and had previously managed several successful projects.
Recognising your inner critic is the first step to change. You need to notice when prudence turns into paralysing self-loathing. The difference is that the constructive inner voice offers alternatives and spurs you to action, while the overdeveloped critic only sees obstacles and paralyses you.
Practical tip: For a week, listen to your inner critic for a moment. Write down every time you reject an idea or opportunity before you think it through. You may be surprised how often this happens.
2. The psychological roots of selfishness
Self-doubt is not a sign of weakness - rather, it is the result of excessive self-criticism. Psychological research shows that people who have high expectations of themselves are more likely to struggle with self-blame. This is a paradox: it is precisely those who do the most to improve themselves who feel they are not good enough.
Harvard Business Review study 2023 67% of managers reported that internal criticism was a bigger barrier to their career than any external factor. This means that most leaders are their own worst enemy.
Self-doubt often feeds on perfectionism. If you accept only the perfect outcome, everything else seems like failure. But this mindset is at odds with the laws of reality - growth always comes through mistakes and lessons learned.
"Success is not the absence of failures, but the ability to stand up after every failure." - Winston Churchill
It is important to understand that self-blindness can also be a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you keep doubting yourself, your performance may actually become weaker as you are afraid to take risks or try new things.
3. The positive self-image vs. the inner critic
There is a constant battle in our minds between the positive self-image and the inner critic. This struggle has a decisive influence on how we evaluate ourselves and what decisions we make. The positive self-image sees opportunities for improvement, while the inner critic focuses on threats.
Coaching case study: A marketing agency owner came to us because he was unable to expand his team. Every time he wanted to hire a new employee, his internal critic kept whispering, "You won't be able to finance it", "What if you can't find enough clients", "You're growing too fast". During the coaching it became clear that these fears were fed by negative experiences in the past, but were no longer relevant to her current situation.
Developing a positive self-image does not mean being recklessly optimistic. Rather, it's about having a realistic self-assessment and seeing your own abilities and potential. This is the difference between established self-confidence and superficial positivity.
The first step in reprogramming your inner critic is to recognize that this voice is not you - it's just a habit that can be formed in other ways. The next time you hear someone criticizing you, ask yourself, "Is this thought helping me or holding me back?"
4. Where does the voice of the inner critic come from?
The voice of the inner critic is rarely our own - it usually comes from some external source. It may be the voice of a former boss, a parent, a teacher or even a former partner who has become embedded in our consciousness over time. This voice is so deeply rooted that we often believe it to be our own.
Based on our experience one of the most defining moments in coaching is when the client realises whose voice their inner critic is really speaking. One leader, for example, recognized that the constant "you're not good enough" mantra came from his father, who was never satisfied with his results. As an adult, he continued the same pattern with himself.
Recognising the origin of sound can be a liberating experience. Suddenly it becomes clear that you are carrying an opinion that is not yours and that no longer serves your purpose. This realisation allows you to make a conscious decision: whether to keep that voice or replace it with something more supportive.
Practical exercise: when the voice of the inner critic appears, stop and ask yourself: "Whose voice is that really?" You will often be surprised by the answer. Then you can consciously choose a different tone - for example, speak to yourself as you would to a good friend in a similar situation.
5. Self-blame as a motivator: when is it useful?
Not all selfishness is harmful - sometimes it can be a real motivating force. The question is how you distinguish constructive doubt from destructive self-mutilation. Constructive self-doubt asks questions, seeks alternatives and wants to do better. Destructive self-doubt, on the other hand, only sees obstacles and paralyses.
The constructive internal critic says: "This is an interesting idea, but have we thought through all the aspects? What are the risks and how can we prepare for them?" And the destructive one goes like this: "This is definitely not going to work. You've never been good at this sort of thing."
Case study: The founder of a tech startup shared how self-discovery helped him prepare more thoroughly for investor presentations. His inner voice, asking questions about his business model, encouraged him to think more deeply about strategy. This was constructive self-reflection, as it motivated him to act, not paralysed him.
The key is to learn to ask yourself the right questions out of self-doubt. Instead of asking, "Can I do this?" ask, "What do I need to do to be able to do this?"
6. The relationship between perfectionism and selfishness
Perfectionism and selfishness are closely linked. Perfectionist thinking suggests that everything must be flawless, otherwise we are talking about failure. It is a breeding ground for constant self-delusion, because in reality nothing is perfect.
There are two types of perfectionism: healthy and unhealthy. Healthy perfectionism is striving for excellence while accepting that mistakes are part of learning. Unhealthy perfectionism, on the other hand, creates a paralyzing fear of making mistakes.
CoachLab experience leaders who can overcome perfectionism develop much faster and lead their teams more effectively. They accept that their decisions will 80% turn out to be the right ones and are therefore willing to take risks.
| Perfectionist thinking | Development-oriented thinking |
|---|---|
| Everything must be flawless | The mistakes are learning opportunities |
| One mistake can ruin everything | Errors are part of the process |
| Meeting the expectations of others | Living according to your own values |
| Avoid the risks | Taking calculated risks |
| Seeking external recognition | Internal motivation follow |
Getting rid of perfectionism does not mean giving up quality. Rather, it's about learning to distinguish between "good enough" and "perfect" and recognising when you need one or the other.
7. Steps to reprogramming the inner critic
Reprogramming the inner critic is a conscious process that takes time and practice. It's not about silencing that voice completely, it's about changing its tone and content. Here are the most effective steps:
1. Awareness raising: The first step is to be aware of when the inner critic is speaking. Listen to your thoughts, especially in stressful or challenging situations.
2. Questioning: If a negative thought appears, ask the question, "Is this thought a fact or an opinion?" In most cases it is an opinion, not a fact.
3. Re-framing: Change the tone of the thought. Instead of saying, "I'll never be able to do this," say, "It seems challenging, but it can be done step by step."
4. Search for evidence: Look for experiences and results that contradict the negative thoughts. Write down your past successes and situations where you have overcome difficulties.
Coaching experience: An HR director was able to reprogram his internal critic in three months. Initially, with every new project, he thought, "It's too complicated for me." During coaching, she learned to reframe this: "It's an interesting challenge, I'll learn what's needed." This small change made a huge difference to her performance and confidence.
8. Developing self-control instead of selfishness
Self-control does not mean suppressing your feelings or doubts. Rather, it's about consciously controlling your reactions and choices, regardless of what thoughts or feelings arise.
The four pillars of self-control:
- Awareness: You are aware of your thoughts and feelings
- Acceptance: Not judging yourself for having certain thoughts
- Choice: You consciously decide how you react
- Action: You act on your decisions, not your impulses
Practical tip: If you feel overwhelmed by selfishness, apply the "3-3-3 rule". Name 3 things you see, 3 things you hear, and move 3 body parts. This helps you come back to the present and take conscious control of your thoughts.
Developing self-control requires continuous practice. Every time you consciously choose a supportive thought instead of a critical one, you reinforce this new pattern in your brain.
9. What role does the environment play?
Your environment has a huge influence on how strong your inner critic is. If you surround yourself with people who constantly criticise or doubt you, this will amplify your own inner critic. In contrast, a supportive environment helps to quieten that voice.
It is important to recognise: It's not just who you're around, but also what content you consume. Negative news, pessimistic social media posts or critical podcasts all feed your inner critic.
Coaching case study: A sales manager complained that he constantly felt he was not good enough at his job. A coaching revealed that he spends hours a day reading professional forums, where mostly negative experiences are shared. When she started to consciously seek positive content and read success stories, her self-image improved significantly.
Environmental audit practice:
- Who are the people who make you feel better?
- What content do you consume that affects you negatively?
- Where could you let more positive influences into your life?
10. Redefining failure
One of the most effective ways to calm the inner critic is to redefine what failure means. Conventional thinking says that failure is a sign of bad decisions or inadequate skills. Growth-oriented thinking, on the other hand, sees failure as a feedback loop and a learning opportunity.
"I have not failed 10,000 times. I've found 10,000 ways to make it not work." - Thomas Edison
Steps to redefine failure:
- Creating distance: Don't identify yourself with failure. You are not a failure - a decision or an attempt has failed.
- Searching for lessons: Every failure contains valuable information. What worked? What didn't? What would you do differently next time?
- Putting things in perspective: Most "failures" are just one step on the road to success.
IBM's 2022 survey managers who have a positive attitude towards failure are 40% more likely to find innovative solutions and 60% more likely to take risks with their teams.
Redefining failure is not the same as being happy about it. Rather, it's about not letting a bad outcome determine your value or your future opportunities.
11. Practical tools for everyday life
As well as theory, you need concrete tools that you can use in your everyday life. Here are some effective techniques:
Keeping a diary: At least three times a week, write down the negative thoughts that occur to you, and then write a more balanced version next to them.
Building an evidence repository: Collect all the achievements, recognition and positive feedback you have received. In difficult moments, look through them as a reminder.
Internal mentoring technique: Imagine a person you think highly of who would support you. What would they say to you in this situation? Often this is more constructive than the voice of your inner critic.
Exercise 5-2-1: At the end of each difficult day, write down 5 things you did well, 2 things you're grateful for, and 1 thing you'd do differently the next day.
Coaching experience: One marketing manager was able to make a significant difference in 3 months by dedicating 10 minutes every morning to the "inner mentor" technique. Instead of starting with the problems of the day, he focused on how a leader he respected would approach the challenges.
These tools only work if you use them regularly. It's not enough to try it once or twice - you need to develop new neural pathways in your brain.
Summary and action plan
Reprogramming your inner critic won't happen overnight, but every day you take to consciously change will bring you closer to turning self-doubt into self-control. Remember: the goal is not to silence the inner voice completely, but to change its tone and content.
The most important message I can give you from my coaching experience is: you are not your thoughts. You have a choice about which thoughts you give space to and base your decisions on. This choice is the basis of self-control.
If you feel that it would be difficult to make these changes on your own, consider getting help from a professional coach. A CoachLab executive coaching programmes, we have helped many leaders overcome their inner critic and develop self-control.
Remember: all big changes start with small steps. Today, decide which one negative thought you will reframe. Tomorrow, another. A month from now, your inner voice will be a very different voice.
The path is in front of you - it's up to you to decide whether to take the first step.
