YOUR VOICE BECOMES THEIR INNER VOICES

Dear Excellent Tribe,

Somewhere in the world, a little girl is struggling with her homework.
She stares at the page, then hears a voice — not her teacher’s, not even her own.
It’s her mum’s voice from last week:
“Why are you always so slow? Your mates are already done!”
She puts her pencil down, unsure if she’s allowed to try again… or if she’s slow as her mum said, these words are now looping in her mind as truth.

Many of us carry the echoes of what we heard in childhood.
Sometimes, those echoes empower us:
“You’re smart. You can figure it out.”
“Take your time, I’m here with you.”
“You don’t have to be perfect to be loved.

Other times, the echoes shrink us.
They morph into imposter syndrome, people-pleasing, the fear of making mistakes.

Because the way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice.

Your “you’re always breaking things!” might become their fear of taking initiative.
But your “I see you trying, and that matters” might become the courage they cling to when the world is loud.

This is a gentle reminder:
Speak to the child in front of you the way you hope their future self will speak to themselves.

Because long after your voice fades from the room,
it will echo in their choices, their confidence, and their calm.

What words will you leave behind?

Stay Intentional,

Your Favorite Teacher,