This Blog was inspired by a recent one from Susannah and another one from Lex plus comments from everyone.   

Susannah’s recent Blog ‘Same words, different song’ was inspiring (27.11.2025). I read it and all the comments with great interest and was intrigued to find so many of the comments focus on running while listening to a recorded voice saying something in your ear. How is being validated by a recording helpful?

Lex followed this up saying your ‘Inner Narrative is Your Superpower.’ Which simply left me high and dry. I have no Inner Narrative. I have no Inner Voice. 

It became clear that for some of you, talking with your ‘inner voice’ gives you most help. The only voice in my head is me. I have never heard any other voice in my head. And I am OK. Not perfect; not awful. Just me. No inner voice.  

I am perturbed by the thought that some people hear an 'inner voice' saying negative things… or that ‘static’ is in some way responsible for how we act. Me, I am exactly who I am. I may be a mess, but I am MY mess. 

Compassion also concerns me. A friend used to interview potential nurses. He would pick them based on empathy or compassion. He always seemed to pick and choose very well. Then his bosses told him to base his choices on academic successes alone. He was told ‘we will be teaching two 6 week modules on empathy and compassion.’ He took early retirement. 

How can any of the talking therapies not be compassion led? Why is ‘Compassion Focussed Therapy’ even needed? 

Inner voices can get a ‘bad press’ ‘it was my inner voice who told me to do that.’ I am wary of people who tell me they listen to their inner voice giving them directions to live by. And I wonder who is this ‘inner voice’ who has so much authority over you and your actions? Do you know? A woman I used to know told me her inner voice was ‘Jesus’ and she could reliably ask her ‘Jesus’ to say which microwave to buy and what colour carpet. She felt this was ‘fine’ and found my agitation, odd.  

When I wake around 3am and have those long worries; they are my worries. I know it is me dredging up concerns which during the day are insignificant. There is never an inner voice telling me what a mess I’ve made of my life or that everyone hates me… or for that matter telling me I am marvellous and heading for sainthood.

Is this another ‘club’ I can’t belong to? Please explain to me what is an ‘inner voice’ or an ‘inner dialogue’? Why they are seen as a good thing? Because I just don’t get it! 

CMM

A Moodscope member