That Critical Voice in Your Head is Not Yours

As we heal, we begin to recognize that the voice inside our head is not always right, and it may not be ours.

The things we say to ourselves, particularly if they are critical, did not come from us--they are the words of others that we have internalized, and those critical judgements likely came from people who were also showered with criticism that they did not deserve, but from which they have not healed.

It can feel impossible to break the cycle of negative self-talk, but it can be done. One approach you may find helpful is hearing your thoughts as the five-year-old version of you--if you wouldn't say it to an innocent child, you shouldn't be saying it to yourself! For other thoughts on how to disrupt negative self-talk, you can listen to our July 6, 2024 podcast on the topic.