Overcoming Bad Inner Voices

All of us have deeply unhelpful inner voices inside us, dragging us down with criticisms and unfair accusations. Wisdom involves learning how to replace them with more benevolent guides.

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Produced in collaboration with Ana Tortos

[AndroidG]

One suggestion I would provide is, speak to yourself the same way as when you speak to your best friend; With kindness, understanding, and encouragement

[HarpistAngelina]

'All inner voices used to be outer voices'

Mind. Blown.

[REJ]

I once heard that when we hear the negative voices in our minds, it’s helpful to try and identify whose voice it is. Is it your mother’s voice, or your boss’s voice. Try it, it’s amazing to be able to put a name to the voices going around in your head.

I tried it and I was shocked by how many other people’s voices had been internalised, and how much attention I paid to them.

Nowadays, I try to develop the habit of saying to myself, “ah, that’s my mum’s voice telling me I can’t do this because I’m not good enough.” Once I’ve identified the voice I respond with another voice, my own voice and say “no, mum, I get to decide what I can and can’t do, and for the record, I was always good enough, and I’m sorry that you never realised that.”

Excellent video 👏👏👏

[abhilashajha]

Dear people who suffered emotional neglect in childhood and also everyone else,

You in no way were responsible for the fallacies of your parents. When we are abused as children we tend to think we don't deserve love and kindness from people around us and end up sabotaging their efforts. Remember that you are unique, you are beautiful, you are lovable. Love yourself unconditionally, shower yourself with love for being you. See you will make mistakes but if you love yourself you will find the strength to say "It's okay, its human nature to be like this". The assurance from yourself will give you joy even when things go very wrong. You will be your own lover, friend and parent, glowing with inner warmth, helping people discover their own glow and helping them love themselves. This will give you the zeal to live, and even in darkest times, you will be grateful for your existence.

Love yourself the way you want people to love you and never once will you feel that life is not worth living.

Keep glowing,
Love,
Human,
Earth,
2019

P.S: The message of self-love is urgent. It might prevent someone from committing suicide, it helped me.

Edit: Had a good happy cry after reading all your comments. You are all nice, kind and beautiful people. You deserve your own generosity. Love you all.😘

[Mathematrix]

I've noticed that when you lack sleep, it can get a bit more difficult to keep the inner voices under control (maybe? Or it's just me)

[bigboss]

While it's interesting to think who's voice has been embedded in me, I think it's even more interesting to think who has MY voice inside their heads.

[sbeast]

Another way of overcoming negative self talk is to assume that all criticisms and insults are questions rather than statements. For example, change "you are useless" to "are you useless?". Because the usefulness of a person can only be determined by them self, then other people do not have the power to determine your worth, therefore it was always a question, and not a fact.

[antebellum]

You, School of Life, are a good voice to have inside one's head.

[BD]

"An inner voice was once an outer voice" - This line has changed my life. I first watched this video in 2016 while I was struggling with anxiety and insecurities. Upon watching this I was able to pinpoint exactly where my anxiety came from and was able to mentally detach myself from that. I started distracting myself from my anxiety with more productive habits and with the course of 3 months I was able to almost completely obliterate my insecurities and nearly all my anxiety both of which I had been struggling with for over 6 years. Thanks so much :)

[yokab]

This video finds me in a very hard time in my life, and I respect and thank you for it

[superdude]

I feel like this channel is one of the most constructive and important channels on YouTube

[heyjinx]

3:09 is where my tears start streaming down. I often push people away from me because my bad inner voice keep telling me that I have no one to hold on to. Believing that people only see my failures but that is not true at all. I do have real people that never gave up on me, no matter what. 😭💖 Im so happy it’s on my recommendation, thank youu 🥺

[criticalcreator]

This video made me realize that when I become a parent, I'll do anything in my powers to try and stress my kids as little as possible. Thank you for that

[curlyhairdudeify]

I used to draw and to paint. I made a self portrait impressionist style, at that time I was seeing someone. Then, it ended and that person told me that my painting was garbage that I didn't know how to paint and that person knew people that could paint a thousand times better than me. I got rid of the painting and my drawings. Every time that I tried to pick up the pencil all I could hear was that person's voice belittling my portrait. Then after years had passed, I saw an episode of Courage the Cowardly Dog titled "Perfect" and that fish's voice telling Courage that there is no such thing as "perfect" got me into drawing again, and every time I start to hear that person's voice the fish's voice drowns it. There is no such thing as "perfect."

[nobodyeverinhistory]

Porter Robinson fans will be rushing in soon.

Edit (4-26-21): This video was sampled by Porter Robinson in his track "Mirror", the sampled section in question is at 0:20 - 0:35.

[Ghastly]

My inner voice is asking why this artist has such an infatuation with leg hair.

[willjones]

Thanks mom for always being so negative around me, panic attacks and severe depression have ailed me since 4th grade

[mar_tat]

All the lines sampled by Porter Robinson:
0:21 - "Sometimes, the inner voice is encouraging, calling for you to run those final few yards, "You nearly there, keep going! Keep going!..""
0:32 - "...it will all be okay in the end."
2:21 - "They come to feel like things we are saying to ourselves."
4:45 - "Now, these voices have become our own..."

[keepoutintruder]

By watching this video i realised that my inner voice comes from my father, and that scares me a lot.

[Datadrug]

So the inside voices come from outside. So all I need is someone to be positive/ loving to me? If that's the case I'm royally fucked.