: Taming Your Inner Critic: When the Toxic Person Is You
Week 7: Inner Toxic Voice
Title: Taming Your Inner Critic: When the Toxic Person Is You
We often talk about toxic relationships — the people who drain, manipulate, or make us question our worth.
But what happens when that voice lives inside us?
That quiet, constant narrator whispering,
“You’re not good enough.”
“You should have done better.”
“They don’t really like you.”
Sometimes, the most toxic relationship we have… is with ourselves.
🌫 Recognizing the Inner Critic
Your inner critic often sounds rational — it uses “should,” “always,” and “never.”
It disguises itself as self-improvement when really, it’s self-sabotage.
It can mimic voices from your past: a parent’s harsh words, a teacher’s dismissal, a lover’s comparison.
Over time, those echoes form an internal loop that keeps you stuck in guilt or inadequacy.
Ask yourself:
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Would I talk to a friend this way?
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What emotion is my inner voice trying to protect me from? (Rejection? Shame? Fear?)
Awareness is the first step to softening its power.
💗 Tools for Self-Compassion
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Name the Voice:
Give your inner critic a name — it helps you create distance. “Oh, that’s Ms. Perfect again.” -
Challenge Its Claims:
Every time it says “You failed”, ask: “What evidence supports that?” or “What can I learn from this?” -
Affirmation Replacement Therapy:
Replace self-attack with gentle truth.-
“I’m learning, not failing.”
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“I deserve rest, not punishment.”
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“I am enough, even as I grow.”
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Body Awareness:
Notice where tension sits when you’re self-critical — maybe your chest tightens or your stomach knots.
Breathe into that space. Sometimes healing starts with oxygen, not overthinking.
🧠 Rewiring the Thought Patterns
The brain thrives on repetition — whether positive or negative.
Each kind word to yourself literally reshapes neural pathways.
Think of compassion as a mental gym:
Every time you choose kindness over cruelty, your brain learns new strength.
Try this:
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End your day by writing three things you did right.
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Celebrate small wins — “I replied to that message I’d been avoiding” counts.
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Notice progress, not perfection.
✍️ Daily Affirmations
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“I speak to myself as kindly as I wish others would.”
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“My thoughts are not facts — I choose which ones to believe.”
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“I’m growing into someone who roots for themselves.”
🪞Journaling Prompts
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When do I feel my inner critic gets loudest, and why?
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What voice or event in my past does it remind me of?
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What would self-compassion sound like instead?
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How can I support myself the way I support someone I love?
💬 Reflection Prompt:
What would change in your life if your inner dialogue turned into your best friend instead of your harshest judge?
🌿 Engagement Prompt:
Share one kind affirmation you told yourself this week — it might inspire someone else to rewrite their inner script too
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