Letting Go of 'That Voice' is A Massive Part of Healing

Learning to Let Go of “That Voice” Was a Massive Part of My Healing

Have you ever noticed that quiet little narrator inside your head? The one offering a nonstop stream of thoughts—commentary, doubts, judgments, worries?

Yeah. That voice.

For most of us, it’s not a kind or helpful presence. It’s the voice that says, You’re not doing enough. You should’ve known better. You’re falling behind. Over time, it becomes such a normal part of our mental landscape that we don’t even question it. But I’ve come to realize something that changed everything for me:

Letting go of that voice—really learning to reframe it—was one of the most powerful steps I took in my journey of healing from chronic illness.

What Do I Mean by “That Voice”?

I believe we all have some version of it. It’s that internal dialogue formed over the years, often shaped by fear, shame, and insecurity. For many of us, it started in childhood—created as a form of self-protection. Maybe we thought, If I’m perfect, I won’t be rejected. Or, If I stay small, I won’t get hurt.

But these early beliefs—no matter how understandable—can become hardwired. Eventually, we don’t just hear the voice… we believe it. We begin to act on it, make decisions around it, and carry its weight without even realizing it.

For me, the belief behind my voice was simple:I have to be perfect.

And when I inevitably wasn’t perfect, the voice would lash out:“You’re not good enough.”“You failed again.”“You should’ve tried harder.”

The Link Between That Voice and Chronic Illness

You might be wondering: What does negative self-talk have to do with rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, or physical healing?

Let me explain—because for me, this realization was a major turning point.

We already know that chronic stress plays a big role in illness. When the body is under stress, it activates the fight-or-flight response—releasing hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. In the short term, that’s helpful. But when stress is constant, those hormones stay elevated. And here’s what happens:

• The gut lining weakens (leading to leaky gut)

• Inflammation increases

• The immune system becomes dysregulated

• Healing slows down

• You become more vulnerable to disease

Here’s the connection: relentless self-criticism is a major source of chronic stress.

That inner voice—when filled with fear, judgment, or pressure to be perfect—isn’t just an emotional burden. It’s a physiological one. Every time we mentally beat ourselves up, we’re sending the body a signal: You’re not safe. And the body responds accordingly.

So How Do You Quiet That Voice?

I’ll be honest—this part isn’t instant. But it is possible. Here are some of the key steps that helped me:

1. Identifying the Root

I asked myself: Where is this belief coming from?I realized I believed I had to earn love by being exceptional. That if I wasn’t “perfect,” I wouldn’t be accepted.

2. Challenging the Belief

I questioned: Is this actually true?And then I practiced replacing it with a more compassionate truth:

“I am enough, just as I am.”“I don’t need to be perfect to be loved.”

3. Focusing on Progress, Not Perfection

Instead of aiming for flawless outcomes, I broke things into small, doable steps. I started celebrating effort and consistency over results.

4. Practicing Self-Kindness

When I made a mistake, I began responding to myself like I would to a friend—with gentleness and understanding, not blame.

5. Seeking Positive Input

I immersed myself in uplifting content—spiritual teachers, healing podcasts, supportive books. It helped retrain my mental environment.

6. Starting a Gratitude Practice

Each day, I wrote down ten things I was grateful for. This simple practice reoriented my mind toward what was working, rather than what wasn’t.

Final Thought

Changing your inner voice isn’t about silencing every negative thought. It’s about noticing when the old script is playing—and choosing to respond with something more truthful, more loving, and more empowering.

And here’s the beautiful part: when you shift your mental and emotional environment, your body feels it.

Letting go of “that voice” wasn’t just emotional for me.It was physical.It was healing.It was freedom.

If you’re on a healing journey right now, don’t underestimate the power of your thoughts. The stories you tell yourself every day shape your reality—mind, body, and spirit.

You deserve peace—not perfection. And that starts with the voice within.