From High Achievement to True Freedom: My Journey Beyond the Inner Critic

Is My Story Like Your Story?

You’ve worked hard. You’ve pushed through challenges.

You’ve built success that others admire.

But despite everything you’ve achieved, that voice in your head—the one that questions, doubts, and demands more—never seems to quiet down.

I know this because I’ve lived it.

For as long as I can remember, I measured my worth through achievement.

At just 9 years old, I was in an academic rivalry with a classmate, already believing that success meant proving myself. That relentless drive followed me through school, university, and into my career.

With every milestone—every degree, promotion, and accomplishment—I expected to feel fulfilled. But no matter how much I achieved, the satisfaction never lasted.

Because what I didn’t realize then was that I wasn’t just chasing success—I was trying to outrun the voice in my head.

The Inner Critic That Drove My Success—And My Burnout

That voice—the one that told me I wasn’t doing enough, that I needed to work harder, that I had to prove myself—was always there.

It kept me striving for the next goal, convincing me that if I just achieved one more thing, I’d finally feel like I was enough.

So, I climbed the ladder fast. I even sought a promotion while on maternity leave, unwilling to slow down for even a moment.

Eventually, I reached the pinnacle of my career: Headship of a large primary school.

This was it—the dream I had worked so hard for.

But instead of feeling successful, I felt lost. Disconnected.

The pressure was relentless. My inner critic was louder than ever. And without realizing it, my body was keeping the score.

The Breaking Point That Changed Everything

One day, I walked out of work because I simply couldn’t do it anymore.

I was exhausted. Mentally. Emotionally. Physically.

For the first time in my life, I couldn’t push through.

And yet, even in my burnout, that voice was there:

"You should be stronger than this."

"You can’t just stop—what will people think?"

"You’ve worked too hard to let it all go."

After a long period off work, I finally resigned. I thought leaving my career would bring relief—but instead, my inner critic followed me into my next chapter.

As I started my business, the self-doubt was worse than ever. Every decision felt terrifying. Every action triggered another wave of overthinking.

I genuinely believed that if I couldn’t silence this voice, I would fail as a business owner.

The Search for Answers (and the Wrong Turns I Took)

Like any high achiever, I tried to fix myself.

I threw myself into personal development, affirmations, therapy, and mindset work—treating personal improvement as just another goal to achieve.

But no matter how much I worked on myself, the relief was always temporary.

Because I was looking in the wrong place.

I was trying to silence the inner critic instead of changing my relationship with it.

The Real Shift: Thriving Beyond the Inner Critic

Everything changed when I discovered the understanding that now underpins The Thriving Life Approach.

I finally saw that confidence doesn’t come from getting rid of self-doubt.

It comes from learning to hear the inner critic—without obeying it.

To move forward—without waiting to feel ready.

To succeed—without needing its permission.

And as I embraced this shift, everything changed.

Since then, I’ve spoken live across the internet for many hours, created over 50 courses on Insight Timer, and am growing a business that feels aligned, authentic, and fulfilling.

And here’s the most important part: I no longer let my inner critic lead my life.

Why I Do This Work

I know how it feels to:

Work harder than ever and still not feel good enough.

Feel paralyzed by self-doubt, waiting to feel ready.

Overthink every decision, afraid of getting it wrong.

But I also know that you don’t have to stay stuck in that cycle.

You don’t have to wait until your inner critic disappears.

You don’t have to earn the right to feel confident.

You can choose to thrive—right now.

If my story resonates with you, I invite you to take the next step.

Download the Thriving Beyond the Inner Critic Ebook and take your next steps on your journey from surviving to thriving!

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