Day 2 – Befriending the Inner Voice in Relationships
The ocean stretched endlessly before them, a deep sapphire expanse rippling under the golden sun. Inse leaned against the railing of Curity’s private yacht, inhaling the salty breeze. It was a picture-perfect setting, yet his mind was anything but calm.
“So,” Curity said, reclining in a lounge chair nearby, “are you going to tell me what’s on your mind, or do I have to guess?”
Inse gave a hollow chuckle. “You always know what’s on my mind.”
Curity smiled. “Maybe. But I want to hear you say it.”
He hesitated, then sighed. “It’s relationships. I feel like… no matter what I do, I’ll never be good enough for someone. My anxiety, my depression… they’re like a constant weight. Who would want to deal with that?”
Curity took a sip of her iced tea. “Ah, the old ‘I’m not good enough’ soundtrack. Classic Voice of Insecurity.”
Inse ran a hand through his hair. “It’s not just insecurity, Curity. It’s reality. I see couples in therapy all the time, one partner overwhelmed because the other is struggling with mental health issues. It’s exhausting. I don’t want to put that on someone.”
Curity tilted her head. “And yet, you’re a therapist. You help people through their darkest moments every day.”
“That’s different.”
“Is it?”
Inse opened his mouth but found himself at a loss.
Befriending the Inner Voice in Love
Curity stood up and walked to the railing beside him. “Listen, I’m not going to tell you your fears are irrational. Your inner voice isn’t wrong to acknowledge the challenges of relationships, especially with mental health struggles. But the problem isn’t your depression or anxiety, it’s the story you’re telling yourself about them.”
“What do you mean?”
She turned to him. “You’re treating your struggles as a disqualifier. As if love is only for the perfectly stable, the endlessly happy. But real love isn’t about finding someone who never struggles. It’s about finding someone who chooses to be there anyway.”
Inse exhaled. “That sounds great in theory. But in practice? I’ve been in relationships where my anxiety pushed people away.”
Curity nodded. “And what did you learn?”
“…That I should probably just stay single.”
She laughed. “Wrong answer.”
The Myth of the Perfect Partner
“Inse, relationships aren’t about being perfect. They’re about being real. You want a healthy relationship? Then you need to stop trying to hide or fix every flaw and start Befriending Your Inner Voice.”
Inse frowned. “How does that help?”
Curity gestured around them. “Look at this yacht. It’s a masterpiece, right? Smooth sailing, all luxury. But underneath? There are engines that break down, parts that need fixing. The key isn’t pretending the problems don’t exist, it’s maintaining the vessel so it keeps moving forward.”
Inse nodded slowly.
“Your mental health challenges don’t make you unlovable,” Curity continued. “But your belief that they do? That’s what creates problems. If you approach relationships from a place of shame, you’ll either push people away or attract those who want to ‘fix’ you, which never ends well.”
“So, what? I just lay it all out from the start?”
“No,” Curity said gently. “You start by Befriending Your Inner Voice. That means recognizing that your struggles are a part of you, but they don’t define your worth. A relationship isn’t about hiding your wounds, it’s about finding someone who accepts you, wounds and all.”
The Takeaway: Love Isn’t About Perfection
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, Inse felt a strange sense of relief. Maybe he wasn’t broken. Maybe he was just… human.
Curity smiled at him. “One last thought: Would you ever tell a client they don’t deserve love because of their struggles?”
“Of course not.”
“Then why are you saying it to yourself?”
Inse had no answer for that.
Lesson of the Day:
Befriend Your Inner Voice. Love isn’t about perfection, it’s about authenticity. True connection comes when you accept yourself fully, rather than trying to be someone without flaws.
