Have You Ever Challenged Your Inner Voice?

Written By Anne Mc Comish

Would you believe that my inner voice was loud this morning — because I’ve never written a blog before?

This is what we call a self‑limiting belief.

Many professionals I coach struggle with these beliefs… that inner voice that whispers:

  • “You’re not good enough.”

  • “You have nothing valuable to add.”

  • “If you speak up, you’ll be judged.”

Often, this voice stems from a comment or experience earlier in our careers or lives. Something small gets lodged within us and slowly becomes a belief — one that creates a real barrier to our development and success.

Understanding the Inner Voice

I became so fascinated with this topic that I read The Chimp Paradox by Prof. Steve Peters.

The book explores the idea that our brains contain an “inner chimp” — the emotional, impulsive part of us that reacts before we think.

But we also have our “inner human” — the logical, calm, resourceful part.

Coaching helps people understand this inner voice and bring more of that logical, positive human into their daily thinking. Peters calls this mind management: balancing our emotional and thinking selves.

When I work with clients, I help them identify the self-limiting beliefs holding them back and transform them into empowering beliefs that support their goals.

So How Do You Control That Inner Voice — Your Chimp?

1. Build Self‑Awareness Through Reflection

Start noticing the exact moment your inner voice appears. A trigger might be:

  • A meeting where you want to contribute but stay quiet

  • Doubting your ability when given a task

  • Feeling “not good enough” in your role

  • Not applying for a job you would love

2. Reflect After Each Trigger

Take a moment afterwards to understand what happened.
Write it down in a notebook — what the situation was, what you felt, what the belief was.
Do this consistently over time. Patterns will appear.

3. Replace the Belief

Once you know what triggers you, coaching helps you explore whether you can replace the old belief with a more positive, accurate, empowering one.

4. Reprogramme the Thought in Real Time

The next time the trigger happens, intentionally bring in your new belief.
Over time, this becomes your new default narrative.

It Takes Practice — But It’s Powerful

Reframing your inner voice is transformational.
It shifts your thinking from negative to positive and brings you closer to the goals you’ve set for yourself.

So this morning, when my inner voice told me all the reasons I shouldn’t write this blog, I recognised it. I quietened it. I replaced it.

I controlled my chimp.

Because self‑belief isn’t something you “have” — it’s something you continually build.

Here is the result.

I hope you enjoyed my very first blog.

If you’d like to explore your own self‑limiting beliefs and see how coaching could support you, feel free to book a free discovery call with me.

Anne Mc Comish