My inner voice can be super mean. The older I get the better I am at shutting it up, but there are still plenty of times when my inner voice tells me I’m useless and unlovable and there’s nothing I can do about it.

It’s hard to fight yourself. It’s hard to remember that that niggling little voice inside isn’t the voice. That voice doesn’t know anything! Listening to that mean little voice is the worst.

And when was the last time your inner voice said nice things? When does your inner voice pump you up and make you feel bigger and better than average? THAT’s what that voice should be doing.

If you’re at all like me it’s impossible to fully ignore the mean little voice inside. The only thing I can do is talk back to it. If it tells me I’m unlovable, I point out all the people that like and love me. If it tells me I’m useless, I point out all the worthwhile things I’ve done lately.

Try to balance your inner voice. If it’s mean and nasty, try to make it uplifting and supportive at other times. Make your voice remind you that you can do hard things. Make it remind you that you are strong and capable and like a good challenge. Make it remind you that you are loved and appreciated in this world.

That nasty inner voice may never go away. But that supportive inner voice can’t either. If you are going to listen to one then listen to the other too. You can’t give the bad-guy voice all the credibility and knowledge and then also disregard the good-guy voice as knowing nothing.

The bad stuff may be easier to believe but that doesn’t make it any more true. You know who you are. If you’re going to talk yourself down sometimes then you have to force yourself to talk yourself back up too. Argue with the nasty voice. Remind it – and you – that you bring good to the world and that’s all that matters.

Your inner voice doesn’t really see you unless it sees both sides of you. Don’t just listen to the bad.