Balancing with the Inner Critic

Affirmation: "I honor my inner critic as a protector, but I choose awareness and balance as my guides. I am safe, I am capable, and I allow my aliveness to shine through."

The inner critic is clever. It’s a well‑honed self‑defense mechanism, designed to keep us safe from risk, disappointment, and rejection. In fact, it often rejects us before anyone else even gets the chance.

But here’s the thing: when that voice is out of balance, it doesn’t just protect—it steals. It robs us of aliveness, of self‑expression, of connection.

Over the past few months, I’ve been paying closer attention to the way I automatically speak to myself. Instead of letting the critic run wild, I pause and ask:

• What are you protecting me from?

• Am I safe in this moment?

• Do I really want to do this and am just afraid?

That pause has changed everything. It’s like opening a window in a stuffy room—suddenly there’s space, clarity, breath.

I’ll be honest: many times I’m afraid of “looking stupid,” of failing, of not doing it well. But many times, I am actually safe. And when I recognize that safety, even in the presence of fear, I can make a better choice in the moment.

The trick is awareness. The balance. Without it, the inner critic can wreak havoc. With it, the critic becomes less of a bully and more of a cautious friend—one I can thank for trying to protect me, but not one I allow to drive the car.

So today’s reminder: listen to your inner critic, but don’t hand it the microphone. Ask it questions. Notice when it’s keeping you small. And remember—you are safe more often than you think.

Awareness is the doorway. Balance is the practice. And aliveness is the reward.

Peace and Blessings

This January, the Rooted Series will be a space to explore exactly that—how to anchor ourselves in nourishing rhythms while staying open to change. It’s about cultivating habits that ground us, without binding us. If you’re ready to begin the year with balance, presence, and intention, join me in the Rooted journey.

Rooted: Where consistency meets transformation