The Impostor and the Inner Critic

Recently, during a supervision session for my coaching practice, I was asked what made me choose my particular topic. As the conversation unfolded, something interesting came to light

What I had always labeled as my imposter syndrome was reframed by my coaching supervisor as my inner critic

It got me thinking…

I realized that my inner narrative shifts from situation to situation

When my impostor speaks, the tone is harsh, saying things like:

"You're sh!t."

"You're not good enough."

"They can see right through you."

But when it’s my inner critic, the tone is more constructive:

"You can do better."

"There’s room for improvement here."

The tone is very different

Now, when I hear the narrative in my mind, I listen carefully to the tone. If it's my inner critic, I lean into it — reflecting on what it means for my growth. When it's my impostor? That’s a topic for another post! 😉