It's hard to break the cyce of negative feedback, because every time we fall short or miss the mark even by a hair, all those old tapes start crnking out the message - we're no good, we're a waste of space.

We've had way more practice at beating ourselves up, so that's what comes naturally. We lean into the dark side because it's familiar. Much easier than struggling to change the tapes.

But no-body else is gonna do it for us. WE have to make the effort even when we don't believe. We have to recognize thr lies for what they are - Thoughts. Things that pass through our minds. They can change in a heartbeat. And they only have as much power as we give them.

But every time we replace a lie we've been taught with the truth - we are worthy of love, we can be capable, we are more than our last mistake - it gets a little easier. We believe it a little more.

It took a long time for us to believe all teh lies we tell ourselves. It will take time and effort to replacew them.

I will never be free of my "darkness." But I choose to use it for my writing and not for running my life. Sometimes I'm better at it than others. But it's always a choice.

And some days we need a friend to remind us it's worth the effort.