Looks like your dominant repeating pattern is:

THE INNER CRITIC

How this pattern shows up

When things feel messy or uncertain, your Inner Critic steps up to take charge. It has one goal: control the chaos by perfecting yourself.

You might:

• Replay conversations in your head, wondering if you said the wrong thing

• Feel like you should be doing more, better, or faster

• Push down feelings and power through instead of pausing to rest

• Struggle to accept praise or feel proud of your efforts

• Hold others to high standards and get frustrated when they don’t meet them

This part isn’t trying to be harsh, it’s trying to keep you safe.

Let’s be real though - this isn’t a flaw, its an adaption.

This part of you formed for a reason. It’s helped you cope, stay safe and make it through life when things got overwhelming. It’s not broken — it’s brilliant and it’s also probably pretty tired too.

“You’re sharp, discerning and hold yourself to high standards. It’s a strength - you care about doing things well and getting it right. But that same precision can turn inward, fueling self-doubt and a sense that nothing is ever quite enough. Underneath your inner-critic, there’s often a quiet fear of not being enough as you are…”

What it’s trying to protect?

At its core, the Inner Critic is a protector. It learned that if you just do everything right, you’ll avoid the pain of criticism, rejection, failure or being misunderstood.

It’s trying to shield you from:

• Feeling not good enough

• Being judged or exposed

• Losing control or making mistakes

• The messiness of being fully human

It’s doing its best, even if it’s running you ragged.

How it might be holding you back

When this pattern runs unchecked, it can:

• Keep you stuck in overthinking and self-doubt

• Make it hard to enjoy what is working

• Drain your energy with constant self-monitoring

• Stop you from taking risks or showing up fully

• Create disconnection in relationships through judgment or withdrawal

You’re not broken, just caught in a loop that thinks effort = safety.

The superpower behind the pattern

When it’s not in overdrive, your Inner Critic brings gifts. It can help you:

• Spot what’s out of alignment

• Show up with care and integrity

• Hold a high standard without needing perfection

• Offer thoughtful feedback and deep insight

• Build trust through consistency and quality

Your discernment is real, it just needs a little compassion to soften the edges.

How to work with it differently

This part of you isn’t the enemy — it’s just tired from doing too much for too long.

Here’s how to shift:

• Notice when it shows up. Do you feel tension? Tight chest? The urge to fix?

• Name it gently. “Hey, Inner Critic… I see you.”

• Ask what it’s protecting. Get curious: what’s the fear under here?

• Offer support. What would it be like to let yourself off the hook, just for a moment?

• Choose something different (if you're ready). Like rest, some self-kindness or even asking for help.

Change starts with awareness, not more effort.

What now?

• 📩 Keep an eye on your inbox — I’ll send you a few short emails to help you work with your pattern

• 🧠 Naming the pattern is step one — now we explore what it actually looks like in your real life

• 💬 Want to go a bit deeper? Book a 1:1 Pattern Debrief session with me — 45 mins, $45 on Zoom

• 🔍 Curious about the other patterns? You might recognise parts of yourself in them too — we’re rarely just one thing

👉 Book your debrief here