We all have that inner voice that loves to pipe up with negative commentary at the most unhelpful times. You know the one – that nagging stream of self-doubt that seems to delight in poking holes in our confidence and sabotaging our efforts before we even begin. If left unchecked, this inner heckler could practically qualify as an Olympic sport of its own. In fact, I think it’s high time we recognized the body’s self-sabotaging powers with the inaugural Inner Voice Olympics! Let’s go through some potential events:
The 100m Self-Doubt Sprint
On your marks…”You’re going to embarrass yourself out there.” Get set…”Everyone else is so much faster than you.” GO! “Why did you even sign up for this race? You’re just going to lose.”
The High Jump of Low Self-Esteem
“That bar looks wayyyy too high. No way you can clear that.”
“Don’t even try, you’re just going to knock it down again.”
“Remember that time in 3rd grade when you failed at jumping rope? This will be just like that.”
The Negative Mental Hurdles
“This next hurdle is definitely too high to get over.”
“You’re already behind, why keep going?”
“Just trip and fall on purpose, it’ll be easier that way.”
The Discouraging Weight Throw
“That weight is way too heavy, you’ll just strain something.”
“Throwing has never really been your thing.”
“Maybe you should have practiced more instead of doubting yourself.”
The Cringey Uneven Parallel Bars
“Don’t even start, you’re going to fall flat on your face.”
“Everyone is watching and judging you hardcore right now.”
“Why would you wear those tight shorts? So embarrassing.”
As you can see, our inner voices have truly Olympic-level skills when it comes to raining on our parades. The negative self-talk can be hilariously extreme and irrational if you stop to look at it. While it may never make it onto the official Olympic program, the Inner Voice games are a preview into the self-sabotaging narratives many of us wrestle with on a daily basis.
The good news is, once you start noticing your inner heckler, you can start fighting back with positive self-talk and self-compassion. Imagining your self-doubt as a character jumping bizarre hurdles can make it easier to respond with a quiet “Thanks for your thoughts, but I’ve got this!” and keep on moving. So give a polite golf clap to your inner critic’s performances if needed – but remember, you don’t have to award them the gold.
