The Inner Witch: When Protection Becomes a Prison

We all have an inner witch, our self-protective system. It is the voice that says: don’t trust, don’t hope, don’t reach out. It rises to keep us safe from harm.

Once, it saved us. Now, it can trap us. It keeps us isolated, doubtful, or ashamed when we try to connect. It comforts with withdrawal, perfectionism, and mistrust. What once protected us can now drain our energy.

The inner witch learned to guard our heart. It reacts with caution, critique, and retreat whenever it senses vulnerability. That vigilance once kept us safe, but life changes, and threats shift. Those same strategies can limit growth, joy, and connection.

The goal is not to silence her. It is to notice her, understand her, and make space for the parts of ourselves she guards. Some risks are worth taking. Trust, hope, and connection can exist alongside caution.

Notice where she appears. Name her. Thank her. Then step out of her shadow and reclaim the energy she has been holding.

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