The inner critic is funny, isn't it? I know mine loves to pop its head up far too often.
That little voice in your head tells you that you're not good enough, that you could never start your own business, that you couldn't move countries because who would you know? That you could never change jobs because what experience do you have in that sector?
I know for me some days that voice is a loud one. It can take over, until I remember who I am and I tell it to shut up because I know it's not true.
The inner critic isn't you. It's a protection mechanism — a part of your psyche that learned long ago to keep you "safe" by keeping you small. It speaks in absolutes: never, always, can't, shouldn't.
But here's the thing: you don't have to believe everything you think. You can hear the critic, acknowledge it, and choose a different response.
Next time it speaks up, try this: "Thank you for trying to protect me. But I've got this."
The voice may never fully disappear. But it can get quieter. And YOUR voice — the one that knows your truth — can get louder.