The Inner Critic: we all have one.
There’s a voice inside us that often sounds too familiar. It whispers—or shouts—words like,
“Who do you think you are?”
“You’ll never be good at this.”
“My idea isn’t good enough.”
“There are people already doing what you want to do, and better.”
The older you are, the more this inner critic has had years to perfect its monologue. It disguises itself as caution, pragmatism, or even realism.
Your inner critic may have been influenced by other people around you: parents, close friends, or even people you don’t know personally but you heard what they said.
“Yes, but you have to pay the bills.”
“You shouldn’t make money off of art.”
“I’ll have to see it when I believe it.”
What isn’t true, isn’t real.
The inner critic’s voice becomes more entangled with our dreams, visions, curiosities and then, like the antagonist in your life story, it becomes the biggest barrier between you and the creative life you long to live.
As long as you let it, the inner critic will silence your ideas, strip away your courage, your willingness to try.
But now it’s time to tell it to shut the f-up because the inner critic is not fact. It is fear in disguise. And like any fear, you can face it. Yes, you!
You have the ability to rewrite the script. To rewrite the story.
I was listening to Tony Robbins speak once and he said, Change your Story, Change your Life.
You can choose. What is it that you want?
The Science Behind Self-Doubt.
Neuroscience reveals that negative self-talk activates the amygdala, the brain’s fear center, which releases stress hormones and can literally shrink the prefrontal cortex—the area responsible for creative thinking and problem solving (Davidson & Begley, 2012).
Humans have also evolved from a time when running away from animals while also hunting them, was a form of survival. It is an ego side of ourselves that was there for a reason. Protection. Safety.
But now, in the case where self doubt comes in, our “ego self” has overshadowed parts of us where the ‘fear’ doesn’t need protecting, it needs nurturing.
In contrast, when we replace negative thoughts with positive, empowering ones, we activate the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine and enhancing motivation and creativity.
Rewriting your mental script doesn’t just feel good—it’s a form of mental training. Over time, this rewiring builds new neural pathways, making confidence and courage more accessible.
“The fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself.” -Paulo Cohelo
Likewise, the fear of failure or rejection often holds more weight than the act of trying. But when we shift our narrative, we shift our reality.
Flip the Script, The Practice.
Write down a common negative thought you have about yourself or your creativity.
Rewrite it into a positive, empowering statement.
(E.g., “I’m not good enough” → “I am constantly learning and improving.”)
Repeat your new script daily. Say it out loud. Write it on sticky notes.