Our most persistent opposition doesn’t come from external forces. It comes from within. It’s that voice in your head, the one whispering doubts, planting seeds of fear, and telling you all the reasons you can’t, shouldn’t, or won’t.

I hear it too. Especially when I’m pushing into uncharted territory, starting something new, or – and this is almost always the case – when I’m in the messy middle of a project. That quiet, nagging voice pipes up, reminding me of every time I’ve gotten stuck, given up, or fallen short. It loves to recount past “failures” and predict future catastrophes that haven’t (and likely won’t) had a chance to unfold.

The voice is deafening when I’m reaching out to new clients, or dreaming up new offers. “They’ll never want to work with you.” Or when I’m following up: “You’re being a pest.” This voice, it’s a master storyteller, fabricating elaborate narratives of embarrassment and impending doom. And the worst part? Any hint of rejection, any silence, becomes “proof” that it was right all along.

You’ve tried to power through it, haven’t you? To ignore it, push it away, pretend it doesn’t exist. How did that work out? For me, it only made it scream louder.

Befriend the Inner Critic

I eventually learned a different approach; I acknowledge it. “Oh, hey there. Didn’t realize we were having this conversation again.” Because here’s the uncomfortable truth: that voice thinks it’s helping you. It’s trying to protect you from making a mistake, from feeling embarrassment, from “wasting your time.” The problem is, it’s operating with old data. It knows a past version of you, a you that perhaps wasn’t as resilient, as capable, or as resourceful as you are today.

Sometimes, just that simple acknowledgment is enough. Acknowledge the voice, thank it for its “concern,” and then, with unwavering resolve, recommit to what you were doing.

When You Need Backup

But in those moments when I’m doing something audacious, something that feels genuinely risky? It’s then that I need to bring in the big guns. That’s when a coach, a trusted friend, or a colleague becomes invaluable. When I voice these internal stories out loud to someone else, I suddenly hear how truly bananas they sound.

Is That True?

Finally, there’s one question that withers the voice, the one that cuts through the noise: Is that true?

Is the story that voice is spinning a likely reality? Have you actually seen things like that happen with the frequency and severity your inner critic suggests? The voice’s job is to protect you, yes, but its “disasters” are almost always wildly exaggerated. Break down those catastrophic thoughts. What’s the real, manageable risk? How can you mitigate it?

Who would you be without that voice? What could you accomplish if its narrative wasn’t holding you back?

The biggest hurdle to growth isn’t out there. It’s between your ears. It’s time to take responsibility for that internal narrative and decide what you’re willing to create.