The Voice That Holds You Back

Recently, I had a conversation with a dear friend about our inner voice—that critical one that holds us back. I explained that my inner voice—who, for simplicity, I’ve named Karen—knows exactly how to keep me small.

She has a silver tongue.

She knows how to push my buttons.

She convinces me to be avoidant, reactive, fawning, or isolated.

She pretends to be my most trusted friend, telling me she’s only keeping me “safe” from getting hurt.

And as much as it shames me to admit it, I believe her.

This voice—our inner critic—is a master manipulator.

It whispers lies that feel like truth to keep us trapped.

What Are You Bringing Into the Cave?

This reminds me of a pivotal scene from The Empire Strikes Back.

Luke Skywalker is about to enter a cave for a crucial test. He asks Yoda what he’ll find, and Yoda tells him:

“Only what you bring with you.”

That’s exactly how personal growth works.

When we step into the unknown—

A new relationship

A career shift

A bold personal transformation

We don’t just bring hope and ambition.

We bring all of our baggage, too.

Our shame.

Our self-doubt.

Our trust issues.

Our deepest fears of abandonment.

They all follow us into the cave, waiting to be confronted.

You can’t move forward without first facing what’s been holding you back.

The Lies That Keep You Stuck

You want love, but your inner voice tells you you’re either too much or not enough.

You want a promotion, but it whispers you’re not smart enough and success will make you a target.

You want to start something new, but it warns you you’re delusional—who do you think you are?

We lie to ourselves constantly to avoid pain and resolution.

Our inner voice knows our deepest fears and uses them against us.

It speaks in a language only our wounded inner child can understand.

And just like in Poltergeist, this voice pretends to be our friend.

In the movie, a medium explains that an evil presence is keeping a little girl trapped:

“It lies to her. It tells her things only a child could understand.”

That’s exactly what our inner critic does.

It pretends to protect us but actually keeps us from the life we want.

Why Self-Awareness Isn’t Enough

It’s one thing to go to therapy and read self-help books.

But true transformation requires more than awareness.

We need to understand our behaviors.

Our bodies instinctively respond to perceived threats.

Our nervous system reacts before our logical brain can catch up.

We repeat old patterns because they feel familiar—even when they’re harmful.

If we don’t become conscious of our reactions, we’ll keep playing out the same cycles.

How RTT Helps You Break Free

RTT (Rapid Transformational Therapy) goes deeper than mindset work alone.

It uncovers the root cause of why you react the way you do.

It helps you rewire limiting beliefs at the subconscious level.

It allows you to let go of old wounds so they no longer control you.

Because here’s the truth:

Trauma isn’t what happened to you.

Trauma is the meaning you assigned to what happened to you.

When we change the meaning,

We change how we feel.

We change how we respond.

We change our entire future.

The Power of Coaching and Accountability

“I can figure this out on my own.”

This is one of the biggest lies we tell ourselves.

We all need guidance.

Having a coach or therapist:

Helps you see the blind spots in your thinking.

Keeps you accountable when you start bypassing pain.

Calls out the self-deception that keeps you stuck.

Some people think coaching is a luxury,

But if you truly want to heal and create the life you long for, it’s essential.

And if one-on-one coaching isn’t accessible, there are group coaching programs that can support you.

Healing in isolation is nearly impossible.

Final Thoughts: What Will You Choose?

How you do one thing is how you do all things.

How you show up for yourself determines your future.

Ask yourself:

What lies is my inner critic telling me?

How are those lies keeping me small?

Am I willing to do the inner work to finally break free?

At the end of the day, you have two choices:

Stay in the same loop, believing the same lies.

Do the work to rewire your mind and create the life you want.

You already know which one Karen wants you to choose.

The real question is: What do you want?