# Episode 642: The Inner Critic at Midlife

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/grace-grit-podcast-991716/episode-642-the-inner-critic-at-midlife
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/grace-grit-podcast-991716/episode-642-the-inner-critic-at-midlife.md
Podcast: [Grace & Grit Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/grace-grit-podcast-991716)
Published: 2026-08-28T09:06:00+00:00
Episode link: https://graceandgrit.libsyn.com/episode-642-the-inner-critic-at-midlife
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/graceandgrit/August_28.mp3?dest-id=329309
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/grace-grit-podcast-991716/episodes/episode-642-the-inner-critic-at-midlife
Duration seconds: 515

## Resource

There is a voice that most of us know intimately. The one that says you are not doing enough, not being enough, not achieving enough. At midlife, that voice often gets louder. In this episode I share my own evolving relationship with my inner critic, including how I have learned to stop trying to silence her and start turning her questions back around. When she asks why I am not doing more, I have learned to answer: why not me? Why not this version, this season, doing things the way I am doing them? I also explore the reframe that has helped me most, treating the inner critic not as an enemy but as information, and share research on why self-compassion actually outperforms self-criticism when it comes to motivation, resilience, and performance. Want everything in one place? Join me on Substack for real talk, deeper insights, and the community you didn't know you needed — at https://courtneytownley.substack.com #GraceAndGrit #InnerCritic #MidlifeWomen #SelfCompassion #SelfLeadership #WomensWellness #DeepHealth #Mindset #IntentionalLiving #MidlifeHealth

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## Transcript

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