Your Inner Critic Isn’t the Truth

By: Sarah Gabrielle Barajas, M.A, PSB: 94027905

You know the voice. The one that says: 

“You’re not doing enough.” 

“You always mess things up.” 

“You’re too emotional, too lazy, too loud, too much.” 

That voice? It’s not your truth. 

It’s your inner critic—and it was learned, not born.

Somewhere along the way, you internalized messages about who you should be in order to be accepted, safe, or loved. Maybe those messages came from caregivers, teachers, culture, religion, or peers. Maybe they were loud and cruel—or quiet and implied. 

Over time, they became a kind of mental background noise. A running commentary that critiques your every move and shames your every need. 

And because it’s been there for so long, it can feel like you. But here’s the truth: 

Your inner critic is not your intuition. 

It’s not your wisdom. 

And it’s definitely not your worth. 

Where the Inner Critic Comes From 

That voice may have started as a survival strategy. If you were raised in an environment where perfection was expected, emotions were punished, or you had to be "good" to avoid conflict, your inner critic likely developed to protect you. It became the internal monitor to help you stay safe or fit in. 

But what once kept you safe can become what keeps you stuck.

Left unchecked, your inner critic can: 

● Sabotage your self-esteem 

● Prevent you from taking risks or setting boundaries 

● Fuel anxiety, depression, or burnout 

● Undermine relationships by convincing you you’re “too much” or “not enough” for others 

What Therapy Can Offer 

In therapy, you can begin to identify that voice—not as your identity, but as a pattern. A story. A wound. And you can start replacing it with something better: self-compassion. Therapy helps you: 

● Understand where your inner critic came from 

● Learn how to pause and question it 

● Practice speaking to yourself the way you’d speak to someone you love 

● Build a more supportive, empowering internal voice that honors your growth 

Imagine If You Spoke to Yourself With Kindness 

What if instead of, “You’re failing,” you heard: “You’re learning.” 

Instead of, “You’re so difficult,” you heard: “You’re allowed to take up space.” 

Instead of, “You’ll never be enough,” you heard: “You are enough, just as you are.” 

You don’t have to believe everything your inner critic says. 

You don’t even have to fight it. 

You just have to learn to talk back—with truth, not fear. 

If your inner critic has been running the show for too long, therapy can help you quiet that voice and discover who you are beneath the noise. Visit healingsolutionsftc.org or call 661-903-8822. You deserve to hear a kinder voice—especially from yourself.