What to do if your inner voice is cruel 

Self-compassion: Treating oneself with kindness and understanding, especially in times of failure or difficulty.

Resilience: The ability to bounce back or recover quickly from adversity or challenges.

Negative self-talk: Critical or unkind thoughts and statements directed towards oneself.

Inner critic: The voice in one's mind that engages in self-criticism and negativity.

Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of another.​

Cognitive distortions: Irrational or biased thinking patterns that contribute to negative self-talk.

Affirmations: Positive statements used to challenge and overcome negative thoughts.

Mindfulness: The practice of being fully present and aware in the moment without judgment.

Self-acceptance: Embracing and valuing oneself, including one's flaws and imperfections.

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Vocabulary

Our inner voices can be incredible problem-solvers or harsh critics.

To make our inner voices less cruel, we must cultivate self-compassion.

Practices such as distanced self-talk can help us place our challenges in the larger context of the human experience.​