Behind every “What if I’m not talented enough?” lies a more sinister whisper: “I’m not talented enough.”
Our inner critic exaggerates universal fears.
Take some of your own “What if…” questions and translate them into the blunt, declarative messages lurking underneath.
“What if no one likes my writing?”
→ “No one will like my writing.”
“What if I’m wasting my time?”
→ “I’m wasting my time.”
They’re harsh. Brutal, even.
Imagine saying them to someone you care about — a kid who loves books, a young writer, a close friend who confides they’re working on a novel.
You’d never utter words like this to another person — even a stranger — yet you tolerate this voice broadcasting in your own head all the time.
If you listen closely, you’ll notice another smaller voice that refutes these statements.
During a session, one of my clients said, “I hear a countering voice saying it’s not true. It’s bullshit.”
Exactly.
It’s fear-based distortion, not reality.
Are these negative messages literally true?
Or are you only afraid that they might be?
What if they’re not?
Self-doubt is a protective mechanism, not a truth teller.
Any message in your head is just as real as another.
If you practice listening for and discerning the right messages, you can learn to quiet your inner critic.
Affirmations can effectively shift mindset and challenge limiting beliefs. But they can feel inauthentic if not derived from our own self-talk.
Don’t just borrow somebody else’s generic affirmation like “I’m a successful author.”
Make sure they directly address and counteract your actual negative thoughts.
“No one will like my writing.”
Affirmation: “The right readers will connect with my writing.”
“My writing isn’t original.”
Affirmation: “My unique perspective adds value to every story I tell.”
What’s one positive affirmation you can use to combat your self-doubt this week?
Alternative exercise — I prefer to debate my inner critic in a longer conversation in my journal, calling out its negative messages with examples provided by the positive countering voice.
Slade
For more strategies on overcoming writer’s block and developing a sustainable writing practice, subscribe to The Writer’s Reboot.
What’s really stopping you?
Uncover your blocks and get back to writing with renewed energy and purpose.
For daily posts about writing mindset,
follow me on Bluesky