The Voice of the Inner Critic

Most of us carry an internal voice that sounds a lot like a harsh bully—always ready to attack when we feel most vulnerable. For some, it can drown out the rational mind, leaving behind feelings of powerlessness, shame, and even self-hatred.

This inner critic often follows a familiar script it was handed long ago. It echoes the voices we heard most often in childhood or other formative years, and without awareness, it continues to speak to us in the very same way we were once spoken to.

When We Fuse With the Critic

The real problem isn’t that the voice exists—it’s that we so often fuse with it. We take its words as unshakable truths about who we are. Every criticism becomes a fact, every judgment feels like proof of our inadequacy. In these moments, we forget that the inner critic is not the whole story—it’s just one perspective, one inherited, predictable voice.

Remembering We Have a Choice

Here’s the empowering part: we have more choices than simply listening and rolling with it. We don’t have to automatically believe everything that harsh voice tells us.

When the critic grows loud and obnoxious, we can pause, step back, and notice what it’s saying—without rushing to defend ourselves or to swallow its words as truth. That small pause creates space.

Talking Back Gently

In that space, we might even smile to ourselves and say, “Oh, that old story again. I’ve heard this before.” Or we might get curious and ask, “What else is there? What other voices within me might want to speak?”

This shift doesn’t silence the critic entirely, but it loosens its grip. It reminds us that we are more than one voice, more than one narrative. The inner critic may always have something to say—but we get to decide how much power we give it and whether we follow its directives.