That inner critic is a hater..

Dear Healed Black Girl,

It’s so hard not to listen to that inner critic, right? That voice that whispers we’re not good enough, that we’re going to fail, that we’re not enough. That voice is mean.

Recently, my inner critic told me this movement isn’t going to succeed. That it’s not going to make it. And for a brief moment… I believed it. I thought, Yeah—what is this really doing?

But friend, I’m so glad I didn’t stay in that space. Because deep down, I know this work—this messaging, this movement—is important. I believe in it. And I believe in you.

If you’ve ever felt that inner critic creeping in, just know: you’re not alone.

I’ve been thinking a lot about where our inner critics come from. My therapist once asked me a question that hit deep: Whose voice is that?

Whew. That stopped me in my tracks.

Is that inner critic even mine? Or is it someone else’s voice I’ve internalized?

Through our work together, I realized most of my inner critic came from my mother. My mother had high standards. She was always criticizing herself—and others. I learned early on that she’d be hard to please. And she was. Still is.

If I’m honest, a part of me still wants to please her. And that’s when the inner critic gets loudest—when I think she’ll be disappointed in something I do.

Whew, chile. That’s some heavy ish.

Even as I write this, I’m feeling tearful. Because what I want—more than anything—is to feel fully accepted by her.

I’m going to pause here to process that more. But I’ll leave you with this:

Challenge the hell out of that inner critic.
It’s a hater.
And you, my friend, are a queen.

Follow me on Instagram, send a DM, or shoot me an email. I want to hear from you—
How are you challenging your inner critic these days?

With love,
A fellow Healed Black Girl