How to evict your judgement junkie

Ever hear that nagging voice in your head? The one that snipes every idea before it can stand up—'That’s dumb,' 'Been there, done that,' 'You’ll flop.' It’s smug, relentless, and thinks it’s your bodyguard.

I call this inner critical voice the Judgement Junkie, and thinks it’s here to save you—but if we listen to closely to it, it will sabotage you.

It’s the reason we spin our wheels instead of charging ahead.

Here’s how it sneaks in:

• You shoot down a brainstorm before the ink’s dry. “No way that flies.”

• You zoom in on the cracks and miss the gold. “I’ve never pulled this off—why start now?”

• You freeze, overanalysing, while opportunities slip past.

The Judgement Junkie thrives on flaws—it’s a buzzkill with a megaphone.

But here’s the twist: breakthroughs don’t hide in perfection. They lurk in the messy, curious question: “What if this could work?”

Want to evict your Judgment Junkie or at least remove its megaphone?

Give it a name, call it out, and then counter every criticism with curiosity.

• Instead of saying, That’s a bad idea, ask How could this work?

• Instead of saying, I’m not ready, ask What’s one small step I can take?

Curiosity’s your weapon—it turns stuck into motion, doubt into drive.