Finding Your Strong Inner Voice: Learning to Be Kinder to Yourself
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What happens when the loudest voice in your head isn’t actually yours?
In this episode of the Leadership Vision Podcast, I sits down with Dr. Linda and Brian Schubring to explore one of the most powerful themes from Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane: learning to be gentle with yourself.
Many people struggle with self-doubt, criticism, and judgment. When those messages repeat often enough, they can begin to sound like our own thoughts. But Brian and Linda suggest something different: that every person already has a strong inner voice. The challenge is learning to hear it beneath all the other voices competing for our attention.
The conversation explores questions many of us wrestle with:
- What if my inner voice feels weak or absent?
- How do I know which thoughts are truly mine?
- Why am I so much harder on myself than I am on others?
- How can I become more compassionate toward myself?
One of the practices Brian and Linda recommend is simple but powerful: pause and pay attention. Ask yourself whose voice you’re hearing. Is it a parent? A former boss? A critic from your past? Or is it your own wisdom trying to emerge?
The journey toward self-compassion isn’t about ignoring criticism or pretending everything is fine. It’s about creating enough space to hear your own voice and trusting that it has something important to say.
As Linda reminds us near the end of the conversation:
“Remember that you have a strong inner voice and be gentle as it emerges.”
Reflection Questions
- What voices most influence how you see yourself?
- When was the last time you paused to ask, “What do I think about this?”
- Is there a voice from your past that still shapes your decisions today?
- What would it look like to respond to yourself with greater kindness this week?
Listen to the full episode then share it without who you think needs to hear this message.
About The Leadership Vision Podcast
The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in the discovery, practice, and implementation of a strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. We believe that knowing your Strengths is only the beginning. Our highest potential exists in the ongoing exploration of our talents.
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