10/20/2025
That critical inner voice can be loud. We tend to see ourselves under a microscope and every little mistake can seem bigger than it is.
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Instead of trying to silence the inner critic it can be helpful to listen to it with curiosity. Often, it wants to protect you, either from failure, rejection, or embarrassment (Earley, 2017). But its harsh tone often causes harm instead of good.
Next time it appears, pause and ask: “What are you trying to protect me from?” Then respond with compassion: “Thank you for trying to help, but I choose to encourage myself instead.” By transforming criticism into understanding, you reclaim your power.
This shift doesn’t happen overnight. The inner critic is often rooted in years of habit or early experiences. But each time you respond with compassion, you weaken its grip. Try journaling conversations with your inner critic, or writing supportive responses as if speaking to a younger version of yourself. These exercises create distance from the harshness and invite kindness in its place.
Over time, the critic becomes less of a bully and more of a messenger you can understand and guide. You don’t need to erase that voice, you simply need to change your relationship with it.
How is something you want to tell your inner critic?
