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Every leader needs an inner guidance system

What if you had a voice inside of you that encouraged you to play big? A personal guide that could drive the flood of self-doubt away, help you make tough decisions, and offer you the courage to face whatever adversity lies before you. A voice you could count on, regardless of the circumstance or time of day. That voice is your Inner Mentor.

We are more familiar with our inner critic than our Inner Mentor because we hear the inner critic voice more loudly.

  • Our inner critic demands our attention. Our Inner Mentor waits patiently.
  • Our inner critic rants and raves. Our Inner Mentor speaks softly.
  • Our inner critic feeds on self-doubt. Our Inner Mentor instills confidence.
  • Our inner critic loves to overcomplicate things. Our Inner Mentor keeps things simple.

Would you rather be pressured into making a rash decision by the inner critic or receive wisdom from the Inner Mentor?

Shift from playing small to being BIG.

There is a voice in each of us that is unburdened by fear and untouched by insecurity. It knows exactly who we would be if we were brave enough to show up as our true selves. The Inner Mentor is a way of accessing that part of us, a tool we all have access to. We simply need to discover this voice and remind ourselves that it exists—when we do, it becomes our personal guidance system.

I teach my clients how to turn inward and get to know their Inner Mentor. I advise them to tap into that wealth of knowledge and sage wisdom that we all have within us. You can too.

Try this: When you feel uncertain, drained, and are questioning your own judgement, time travel. Imagine an older, wiser, and more authentic version of yourself. Visualize meeting that person and spending time together in a quiet place. What does the older, wiser you look like? What do you want to share with that person about your current situation? What questions do you want to ask? What fears, behaviors, or thought patterns do you want to highlight? Listen carefully.

What advice and encouraging words does your Inner Mentor offer?

Take your time with this practice. This leadership ritual creates amazing results the more you cultivate this practice and trust in yourself.

I had to learn to consciously put down my inner critic’s playbook and openly ask my Inner Mentor for advice. Today, I make time to meet my Inner Mentor for a morning conversation—to seek guidance about a challenging issue or opportunity that lies before me. My Inner Mentor doesn’t ask me to do more, work harder, or run faster. Instead, he shows me a more graceful and authentically effective way forward.

Every leader needs an inner guidance system. Want to discover your Inner Mentor? Contact us.