Breakup letter to my inner critic and journaling prompts to check in with self.

On showing my inner critic the mental door and sharing journal prompts to help you know yourself a bit better.

Dear Agitating Agatha — November 8, 2023

I’m supposed to start this off by filling in the blanks of a given prompt and thanking you for existing. But, that’s not what feels most authentic right now. At this very moment, I believe a more accurate portrayal of my feelings towards you would be to cuss your ass out. But, I don’t have the energy for that either. So instead, I’ll meet myself somewhere in the middle (maybe including a little cussing), and speak to you as genuinely as I can.

I don’t like you. Yet and still, you continue to bite at my heels like the neighbor’s ugly yappy dog and, just like him, shooing you away never works.

What I dislike most about you is that you wait until the aftermath of my making a courageous decision to agitate me to the point of regretting a bold move. I dared to counter with a salary higher than the insulting offer presented to me, and now you taunt me about being in limbo anxiously awaiting their decision. You admonish me for knowing my worth and daring to advocate for my needs and desires. And now, a week after submitting my fellowship application, you continuously dare me to email the committee to withdraw and save myself the possibility of yet another rejection under my belt this year.

I’m not sure where in all of that I can find a reason to thank you for showing up, but I guess you have me writing at this current moment so, gracias, I suppose.

Sayonara, see you never,

Ashleigh

Prompt: This prompt originated from

L'Oreal Thompson Payton

. I attended a group journaling session led by

GG Renee Hill

on “Stop Waiting For Perfect.” L’Oreal read part of a prompt from her book by the same title that directed us to write a breakup letter to our inner critic, and intentionally name them. Try it out! The book was also a great read/listen for anyone who still has a perfectionist inside of them who sometimes prevents them from expressing and living authentically and fully.

Journal Prompts to Check-In With Self:

If you’re like many people who want to journal but don’t know what to journal about, here are a few prompts about life to get you started. Listen to an audio version of these prompts here.

What is going right in your life right now? What is going wrong?

What would you like to experience more of? Less of?

What recurring thoughts about life are you experiencing? What would you like to think more about?