Taming the Inner Critic for Sustainable Peak Performance
- Craig Law-Smith
- Feb 13
- 3 min read
The High Achiever’s Trap: Why Self-Criticism Backfires
That nagging voice in your head—the one that says you’re not good enough, you need to try harder, others are better than you, or you must nail this presentation or risk everything—can feel like a relentless drill sergeant. The more you listen, the more pressure you feel, and paradoxically, the less likely you are to perform at your best.
It’s like skiing or snowboarding and obsessing over not hitting the trees. The more you focus on them, the more they seem to pull you in. Your mind works the same way. When it fixates on fear, self-doubt, or perfectionism, those things start to control you.
Many high achievers believe this inner voice has fueled their success. They credit their relentless drive, self-criticism, and performance mindset for getting them where they are today. But here’s the truth: that voice is not the secret to sustainable peak performance. In fact, it’s the opposite.
This inner critic, or judge, keeps you in a cycle of anxiety, pressure, and exhaustion. It makes it nearly impossible to rest. Worse, it warps how you see the world. You judge yourself, you judge situations, you judge others—and often, you assume others are judging you. The result? A noisy mental battlefield that fuels stress and burnout.
How to Work with the Inner Critic: The 3A’s
The key to breaking free isn’t fighting these voices—it’s learning to work with them. Here’s how:
Awareness – You can’t change what you don’t notice. Start by tuning into these voices. What are they saying? How do they make your body feel? That gut-wrenching sensation, sweaty palms, racing heart—those are signals. Instead of suppressing them, bring them into your awareness.
Acceptance – Once you notice your inner critic, don’t resist or push it away. That only makes it louder. Instead, accept its presence. A powerful technique is to name it. Yes, give your inner critic a name—Gremlin works, but choose whatever resonates with you. Naming helps engage your rational brain, making the emotions feel less overwhelming. Then, talk to it. Acknowledge its intention, but don’t let it steer the ship. Try saying, Thank you for your concern, but I’ve got this.
Next, give your Gremlin a designated seat—somewhere they can watch but not interfere. Maybe they’re in the stands, cheering you on. Maybe they’re in your back pocket. The goal is not to eliminate them (you can’t), but to shrink them down and put them in their place.
Action – From this place of awareness and acceptance, you can now choose your actions consciously. Instead of reacting from fear, you can ask: What would my best self—without fear—do in this moment? This shift creates space for calm, confident decision-making.
A Practice, Not a Hack
The 3A’s—Awareness, Acceptance, and Action—aren’t a quick fix. They require practice, patience, and perseverance. You are literally rewiring your brain, forming new neural pathways that quiet the inner critic and strengthen your ability to perform under pressure.
Your inner critic will never fully disappear—but with time, it will lose its grip. And when you learn to work with it, rather than against it, you’ll unlock a deeper, more sustainable level of peak performance.
What are your tips on quelling limiting beliefs —what strategies work for you? Share your thoughts, and if this article resonated, feel free to pass it along.
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