For years, my inner critic ruled my creative life — the voice that told me I wasn’t good enough, thin enough, or talented enough to be seen. It took therapy, self-compassion, and a lot of deep listening to realize she wasn’t trying to destroy me — she was trying to protect me.

This is the story of how I stopped fighting that voice and learned to make her my ally.

Story time.

Beneath the lipstick, laughter, and late nights, she was hiding more than anyone could see…