Hey there, friends.Welcome back to Infinite Threads. I’m Bob, and this is Episode 77.

And today’s episode might make you shift in your seat a little. It’s a truth many of us don’t like to admit, but one we all need to face if we’re ever going to live fully and love truly.

The idea is this:We are all, at some point… our own devil.

Now, don’t panic—this isn’t about guilt or shame.It’s about awareness.It’s about honesty.And ultimately, it’s about liberation.

Because if we can admit that we’re sometimes the ones hurting ourselves…we gain the power to stop.

Let’s be honest—most of us have a villain in our story.

Maybe it’s a parent who never gave us approval.A partner who broke our heart.A teacher who made us feel small.

And yes, those people may have caused real damage.

But here’s the thing:They’re not here, inside your head, every day.You are.

Sometimes the loudest critic, the harshest judge, the most punishing voice…is our own.

* We tell ourselves we’re not enough.

* We sabotage our joy before anyone else can.

* We pick fights with ourselves in the mirror, in our minds, in our memories.

And we don’t even realize it.Because it’s the water we swim in.

That voice? The one that tears you down?It was built somewhere.

* Maybe it was built from shame.

* Maybe from childhood trauma.

* Maybe from religious guilt, or cultural expectation, or fear of abandonment.

It’s not evil.It’s protective.It’s the part of you that decided long ago:"If I punish myself first, no one else can hurt me."

But here's the problem:You can’t heal when your own hands are the ones holding the whip.

Most of us try to silence our inner demons by ignoring them—or fighting them.

But what if, instead of fighting that part of you, you sat with it?

What if you said:"Hey, I see you. I know you’re trying to protect me.But we don’t need to do it this way anymore."

That’s when the shift begins.

Because healing doesn’t come from crushing your inner devil.It comes from loving the parts of yourself that still think pain is survival.

Now let’s stretch this a little further.

Sometimes… we’re not just the devil to ourselves.Sometimes we are that force in other people’s stories.

That’s hard to admit.But all of us—me included—have said or done things that caused pain.Out of fear. Out of ignorance. Out of defensiveness.

And it’s tempting to say, “But I didn’t mean to.”

But intent doesn’t erase impact.What heals impact is ownership… and change.

And the amazing part?When we take responsibility, we don’t just free others from our harm—we free ourselves from carrying it forward.

The good news is:If you are your own worst enemy…you also get to be your greatest ally.

You get to change the story.You get to speak kindly to yourself.You get to stop the punishment cycle and write a new path forward—one paved with grace, responsibility, and love.

That’s the work.That’s the freedom.

You are not evil.You are not hopeless.And the parts of you that still sabotage, still hurt, still fear love…They’re not your curse.They’re your wounded children.They’re calling out for gentleness.

So today, take a moment.Look at the part of yourself you’re ashamed of.And instead of pushing it down, say:“I see you. I love you. Let’s do better—together.”

Because you are not just the problem.You are the solution.

Until next time—Speak gently.Heal bravely.And always… stay connected.

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