“Your inner critic isn’t your enemy. It’s a misguided protector, but only if you learn to recognise it for what it is—an opportunity for self-growth.” — Catherine Plano
We all have that voice inside, the one that whispers doubts and insecurities in our ears. Sometimes it’s subtle, nudging you to double-check that email before hitting send. Other times, it’s loud and unforgiving, telling you that you’re not enough, that you’ll never succeed, that you’re fundamentally flawed. This voice is what we call the inner critic, and it can take on many forms. In fact, there are seven distinct critics that often plague us, each with its own strategy for keeping us small.
These inner critics may seem like cruel voices in our heads, but they’re not. They’re protective mechanisms, deeply ingrained from childhood or societal conditioning, designed to shield us from perceived threats like failure, rejection, or even success. But while they aim to keep us safe, they often do more harm than good.
Let’s explore these seven inner critics and the ways they sabotage your progress. By naming them, understanding their motives, and learning how to manage them, you can begin to silence these voices and reclaim your power.
The Perfectionist: Chasing an Unattainable Ideal
The Perfectionist is the inner critic that tells you nothing you do is ever good enough. It sets impossibly high standards for performance, behaviour, and success, making it difficult to finish projects—or sometimes even start them. You might recognise this voice as the one that causes writer’s block, the one that forces you to edit the same paragraph over and over again until it’s “perfect.”
The Perfectionist doesn’t just attack the quality of your work; it attacks your worth. It whispers, “If this isn’t flawless, you’re a failure.” The irony? The constant striving for perfection paralyses progress, leading to procrastination, self-doubt, and a cycle of never feeling good enough.
Picture Charlie, working late into the night on a presentation for his boss. He’s already put in countless hours, but each time he reads it, the Perfectionist chimes in: “This isn’t good enough. What if your boss thinks you’re incompetent?” Charlie revises endlessly, but in the end, he misses the deadline, trapped by his inner critic’s relentless demands.
The Inner Controller: Battling Impulses with Shame
The Inner Controller is the critic that tries to reign in impulsive behaviour—whether it’s overeating, overspending, or losing your temper. It’s the voice that shames you after a slip-up, berating you for your lack of willpower. This critic keeps you in a cycle of indulgence and punishment, making it difficult to find balance or self-compassion.
The Inner Controller often leads to a constant battle within yourself. You give in to an indulgence, only to be met with a torrent of self-reproach afterwards, reinforcing a cycle of guilt and shame.
Jill finds herself binge-eating late at night after a long, stressful day. As soon as she’s finished, her Inner Controller lashes out: “You’re disgusting. You’ll never lose weight if you keep this up.” The shame Jill feels makes her more likely to repeat the behaviour the next time stress hits, deepening her self-criticism.
The Taskmaster: Pushing You Beyond Your Limits
The Taskmaster is the relentless drill sergeant of your inner critics. It believes that success comes from hard work and that you’re lazy, incompetent, or doomed to fail if you don’t constantly push yourself. This critic thrives on productivity but often to the point of exhaustion. It leaves no room for rest, creativity, or joy.
If you’ve ever felt guilty for taking a break or berated yourself for not accomplishing enough, you’ve heard the Taskmaster at work. It drives you to burn the candle at both ends, leaving you burned out and still unsatisfied.
Sarah is a high-achieving professional, always juggling multiple projects at once. But even on weekends, when she’s supposed to relax, her Taskmaster keeps her on edge: “You should be working. There’s no time to rest when you have so much to accomplish.” Over time, Sarah’s energy wanes, and her passion for her work fades as she tries to keep up with the demands of her inner critic.
The Underminer: Sabotaging Your Self-Confidence
The Underminer is the critic that sows’ seeds of doubt, convincing you that you’re not capable, not talented, not worthy of success. This critic wants to protect you from failure by stopping you from trying altogether. It convinces you that staying small and invisible is the safest option, even if it means sacrificing your dreams.
The Underminer keeps you from taking risks, speaking up, or stepping into opportunities, all in the name of preventing rejection or failure. But in the process, it ensures you never achieve your full potential.
Rachel dreams of starting her own business, but every time she thinks about taking the first step, the Underminer chimes in: “You’re not cut out for this. Who do you think you are? What if you fail and lose everything?” Instead of moving forward, Rachel hesitates, paralysed by her inner critic’s harsh words.
The Destroyer: Attacking Your Very Existence
Perhaps the most destructive critic, the Destroyer, doesn’t just question your worth—it questions your right to exist. It tells you that you’re fundamentally flawed, that you’re unworthy of love, success, or even happiness. This critic taps into deep-seated shame, making you feel like no matter what you do, you’ll never be enough.
The Destroyer is deeply rooted in early life experiences or trauma. It’s the critic that makes you feel small, undeserving, and hopeless. When the Destroyer speaks, it can feel as if the weight of the world is pressing down on you, making it hard to believe that change is possible.
John has always struggled with self-worth, and after a recent breakup, his Destroyer voice grew louder: “You’re unlovable. No one will ever want to be with someone like you.” The weight of this self-loathing makes it hard for John to see any hope for his future, feeding into a cycle of despair.
The Guilt Tripper: Reliving Your Past Mistakes
The Guilt Tripper is the critic that keeps you stuck in the past, reminding you of every mistake, every hurtful action, and every missed opportunity. It makes it hard to forgive yourself, constantly replaying moments of guilt and shame, preventing you from moving forward.
This critic convinces you that your past missteps define you and that you’ll never make up for the things you’ve done wrong. It leaves you feeling unworthy of redemption, no matter how much you’ve grown or changed.
After a falling out with a close friend, Jessica’s Guilt Tripper kicks in: “It’s all your fault. You weren’t there for them when they needed you.” Even though years have passed, Jessica can’t shake the guilt, believing that she’s irreparably damaged her relationship and, by extension, her sense of self-worth.
The Molder: Forcing You Into a Societal Box
The Molder is the critic that tries to make you fit into the expectations set by society, family, or culture. It tells you who you should be, what you should do, and how you should act to be accepted. This critic is the voice of conformity, attacking you whenever you deviate from the mold it’s created for you.
The Molder convinces you that following the rules, staying in line, and meeting societal standards are the only ways to be worthy. It stifles your individuality and prevents you from expressing your true self.
Laura grew up in a family where academic achievement was everything. Now, in her 30s, she’s a successful artist, but her Molder critic still says, “This isn’t what you’re supposed to be doing. You should have stayed in the corporate world.” Even though Laura loves her work, she constantly feels the pull of her family’s expectations, making it hard to embrace her creative life fully.
Reclaiming Your Power from the Inner Critics
The seven inner critics each have their own tactics for keeping you small, fearful, and disconnected from your true potential. But the key to overcoming them is recognition. When you can name these critics and understand their motives, you can begin to take back your power. You can learn to listen to your own voice—the one that speaks with compassion, courage, and authenticity.
Your inner critics don’t have to control your life. They may have served a purpose in the past, but now, it’s time to release them. It’s time to step into a life where your choices are guided by self-love, not fear, and where your worth is never in question.
