Taming the Inner Critic: A Conversation With the Voice in My Head

Our inner voice is powerful. Almost too powerful. You know the one I’m talking about—it sounds oddly familiar… kind of like a certain animal?

If you’ve been following my blog series on The Chimp Paradox, you know exactly what I mean.

When I look back at my life, I see countless moments where that voice nearly stopped me before I even started. Like dating—before I could even ask someone out, that voice would step in with all kinds of excuses:

“She’s out of your league.”
“You can’t even drive.”
“You don’t have money—how would you take her out?”
“You’d just be a burden.”

Ouch. Romantic, right?

That same voice popped up when I thought about finding a job or starting a business.

“You can’t do that.”
“You can’t even see your computer screen.”
“How will you read client documents?”
“Who’s going to trust you to run a business?”

Super inspiring. Not.

And then there’s independent living.

“You can’t cook.”
“You can’t grocery shop.”
“What if there’s an emergency?”
“How would you get your kid to school?”

Now add in something as simple as having fun.

“You can’t play sports.”
“You can’t drive to meet friends.”
“Even if you get there, how will you get around?”

At this point, the voice wasn’t just a critic—it was a full-time dream killer. And honestly? It worked. For years, that inner dialogue kept me frozen. Not because what it said was always wrong—but because I never questioned it. I accepted it as truth before giving myself a chance to try.

And that… is a heavy way to live.

Eventually, I realized that this voice, while convincing, wasn’t necessarily right. It was worried, not wise. It was trying to protect me, not push me. Its concerns weren’t facts—they were just “what ifs” with no follow-through.

Sometimes our inner voice jumps too far ahead or gets stuck in the past. It’s our job to pull it back into the present. Like I’ve said in previous blogs: when the Chimp starts swinging from the vines, it’s the Human’s job to calmly say, “Hey, I hear you—but let’s talk facts.”

We all have weaknesses, challenges, drama, and emotional baggage. That doesn’t mean we should retreat into our caves every time doubt shows up. It might be a warning sign—but it’s not a stop sign.

So next time you feel excited about a new idea, opportunity, or adventure—whether it’s a date, a business, or a trip—and that voice starts creeping in?

Just smile and say:

“Thanks for your concern, but I got this. We got this.”

Then do the thing. Go on that date. Launch that business. Play that sport. Travel. Laugh. Live.

Because from firsthand experience, I promise you—your inner voice will come around… and thank you for proving it wrong.