The voices of perfectionism, self-doubt, and self-denigration are most often negative parental voices that we have internalized. The demand for perfectionism by the internalized judge makes even the simplest, most innocent mistakes into catastrophes for our self-esteem.

“The inner critic isn’t harmless. It inhibits you, limits you, and stops you from pursuing the life you truly want to live. It robs you of peace of mind and emotional well-being and, if left unchecked long enough, it can even lead to serious mental health problems like depression or anxiety.”

Judgment: You keep getting involved with people and institutions who criticize and shame you, and your response to life's stressors is to criticize and shame yourself. No matter how hard you try to seek out supportive partners and friends, you end up with people who put you down. Alternatively, important people in your life have told you that your