The inner critic who whispers,
“You’re not good enough,”
“You’ll never get it right,”
“You should be more like them.”

Yeah, that guy.

He’s quick to size everyone else up, pointing out their flaws and shortcomings, but never dares to look in the mirror and ask who he is beneath the mask.

Henry is that noisy voice in my head that always tries to stay in control.

He’s the one who doubts the truth I hear in my heart.

Henry’s like a bunch of noisy Canadian geese—
squawking, flapping, pooping everywhere, and scaring me off my path into confusion. 

But I’m not afraid of Henry anymore.
I’ve come to recognize his voice.
I know when it’s him talking.

I know the sound of his buzzing that fills my thoughts when I listen to fear instead of faith.

And when he gets out of control—when he ramps up the shame, the doubt, the perfectionism—I call him Hank.

Like, “Gristle up, Hank—shut it.”

Sometimes you have to be blunt with the guy.

The one made in the image and likeness of God.

The one who hears the whisper of the Spirit soft and steady in my heart.

God and my True Self know how to deal with Henry.

They don’t fight him.
They laugh with him.
They love him into quietness.

They remind him:

“You’re not in charge anymore. And you never really were.”

I don’t think Henry’s going to disappear completely.
He’s been around for all my sixty years—he’s grown strong.

But I’ve grown too.

I’ve learned to live from the heart,
to listen for the still, small voice
that doesn’t shame or scare
but gently calls me back to love.

And I think Henry is actually relieved.
Relieved he doesn’t have to carry the load anymore.

So here I am, walking forward—
God, my True Self, and Henry.

It’s a mystical path.
One step at a time, like walking through the dark
with only a flashlight
to see just enough of the road
to take that next step.

Maybe loving Henry into wholeness is part of the journey, too.

Not by silencing him completely,
but by walking with him—
with compassion, courage, and grace.

Because in the end, the path of becoming
isn’t about perfection.
It’s about presence.

About showing up each day,
rooted in love,
trusting that even with all our noise and mess, we are being led Home.

Home—to the truth of who we are.
Home to our awakened True Self.
Home to living in and from the heart of God.

And that’s enough to keep walking—
step by sacred step,
day by unfolding day,
with love lighting the way.

—brian j plachta
brianplachta.com

Spiritual Practice: A Loving Conversation with Your Inner Henry

Purpose:

To notice, name, and gently befriend the voice of your false self (your “Henry”) while reconnecting with your True Self—the part of you made in the image and likeness of God.

Time:

5–10 minutes

Setting:

Find a quiet space.

Sit comfortably.

Close your eyes or soften your gaze.
Take a few deep breaths.

Step 1: Settle and Center

Take a moment to breathe deeply.
Inhale . . . and exhale.

Let your breath draw you into this moment.

Feel your feet on the ground.

Feel yourself held by the chair, by the earth, by God.

Silently or softly say:

“Here I am, Lord. All of me. Even the parts I don’t understand.”

Step 2: Invite Henry In

Picture your “Henry”—your inner false self.

What does he look like today?

Is he anxious? Critical? Controlling? Afraid?

Let him show up without judgment.

Notice what he’s saying.

Write it down or speak it aloud:

“You’re behind.”

“You should do better.”

“You’re not enough.”
(Or whatever today’s noise is.)

Gently say:

“Hello, Henry. I see you. I hear you. But you’re not in charge today.”

Step 3: Call on Your True Self

Now imagine your True Self—the part of you rooted in God’s love.

The part that feels whole, calm, wise.

Where do you feel that in your body?

Invite your True Self to speak.

Let it respond to Henry with kindness and clarity.

You might hear:

“We don’t have to hustle to be loved.”

“We’re safe. We’re enough.”

“Let’s walk with trust today.”

Let this voice sink in like sunlight on your skin.

Step 4: Listen for God’s Whisper

Ask God:

“What do you want me to know right now?”

Pause.

Listen with the ear of your heart.

Don’t force words—just be open.

If something arises—an image, a word, a feeling—receive it as a gentle grace.

Step 5: A Loving Sendoff

Close your meditation with these words or your own:

“God, thank you for loving all of me.
Even my Henry.

Help me walk today—step by sacred step—from the heart of Love.

And when I forget, bring me back.”

Take one more deep breath.
Gently open your eyes.
Smile.
You’re already Home.

Optional Journaling Prompts:

What did Henry say today?

How did my True Self respond?

What word or invitation did I receive from God?

How can I walk from my heart today?

In this new Pocast episode: A FUN CONVERSATION BETWEEN YOUR FALSE SELF & TRUE SELF you get to have a heart-to-heart with your false self—and a guided meditation to help you reconnect with your True Self and God’s quiet voice of love.

✨ More peace. Less pressure. A little laughter.
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CLICK HERE & LISTEN TO THE NEW PODCAST & GUIDED MEDITATION 

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