By now you’re probably well aware of your inner critic and have memories of times when you wish you had chased a dream or desire instead of listening to the voices in your head telling you why you’d supposedly fail or weren’t good enough.

Despite those regretful memories you still repeat the same pattern, but with new dreams. Even though you know better, your inner critic says, “Maybe you could have been successful back then in that situation, but today’s situation is entirely different and you just don’t have what it takes. I mean, how embarrassing would it be if you failed and made a fool of yourself? Maybe we can talk about it again next year.”

Our thoughts can often be our worst enemies. But they don’t have to be.

If you’ve been setting intentions and reciting those affirmations daily, but they seem to be getting you nowhere, here’s what you need to do.