🗣️ The Voice in Your Head That Keeps You Stuck

By Jill Edmonds

We all have that voice. The one that whispers in the background when we start thinking about making a change.

It’s not always loud.
Sometimes it’s a murmur.
Sometimes it’s disguised as “being sensible” or “just being realistic.”

But underneath, it’s fear.
Fear dressed up as logic.

✧ What That Voice Often Says

When you feel ready for something new—but haven’t yet taken the first step—you might hear things like:

• “You should be grateful for what you have.”
• “It’s too late to start again.”
• “Other people have it worse.”
• “What if you fail?”
• “Who do you think you are to want more?”

If any of these sound familiar, you’re not alone.
I hear them from clients all the time—and I’ve heard them in my own head too.

✧ Why That Voice Feels So Convincing

That voice isn’t trying to ruin your life.
It’s trying to keep you safe.

The trouble is, it measures “safety” by sameness.
And sameness can be suffocating when you’ve outgrown where you are.

It tells you to stay in the familiar—even if the familiar is no longer making you happy—because it’s predictable.

✧ How to Gently Challenge It

You don’t have to fight that voice head-on. You just need to get curious about it.

Try asking yourself:

• Is this thought based on fact—or on fear?
• Whose voice does this actually sound like? (Sometimes it’s an echo from the past, not truly yours.)
• What might happen if I didn’t listen to it for just one small step?

Even a tiny action—sending an enquiry, signing up for a class, saying “no” once—can show your brain that change doesn’t have to be dangerous.

✧ Self-Talk That Supports Growth

If the voice in your head can pull you back, it can also help you move forward.
You can begin to replace those old phrases with ones like:

• “I’m allowed to want something different.”
• “It’s never too late to grow.”
• “I can be grateful for what I have and still explore what’s next.”
• “I don’t need the whole plan—just the next step.”

✧ A Thought to Leave You With

Change isn’t an act of recklessness—it’s an act of listening to yourself.

When the voice in your head says “stay where you are,” remember: it’s not always telling the truth. Sometimes, it’s just scared.

And you can acknowledge its fear… while still choosing to move forward.

—
Jill x

P.S. If you’re feeling stuck between wanting change and doubting yourself, I’d love to hear from you. You can read more reflections like this at jilledmonds.co.uk or simply reply to this message for a gentle, no-pressure conversation.