For a long time, I wore certain habits like badges of honor. Hustling harder. Pushing through exhaustion. Doing things the “right way,” even when it wasn’t right for me. These habits got praised in the workplace, applauded in friend groups, and reinforced on social media.

But somewhere between juggling family, work, and trying to have an actual life, I realized something: the habits I was glorifying weren’t actually serving me. They weren’t making me more productive, more fulfilled, or more successful — they were just making me tired, overwhelmed, and sometimes resentful.

You know that goal you’ve had on your heart forever—the one that lives rent-free in your mind but never seems to make it past the ‘someday’ stage? Maybe it’s launching your dream business, finally getting organized, or creating a daily routine that doesn’t feel like total chaos. Whatever it is, I see you. And I also know that the hardest part isn’t having the dream—it’s figuring out how to make it actually happen.

How often do you catch yourself being way harder on yourself than you would ever be with a friend? It’s easy to let that inner critic take over, but what if we flipped the script and started talking to ourselves with the same kindness, encouragement, and patience we give others? In this post, I’m sharing why how we speak to ourselves matters, and how small shifts in self-talk can help us show up for ourselves in a way that’s actually supportive. Ready to make your inner voice your biggest cheerleader? Let’s dive in.