Treading the Waters of Life with Sylvia Stinson-Perez
A member of the Sunday Edition family of podcasts
Episode Title: The Voices We Carry – Rewriting the Story We Tell Ourselves
What if the voice inside your head isn’t telling the truth?
In this powerful and deeply human episode of Treading the Waters of Life, host Sylvia Stinson-Perez invites listeners into a meaningful conversation about the inner voices that shape our confidence, our choices, and our sense of belonging.
We all carry voices.Some come from childhood.Some from moments of criticism or failure.Some from expectations placed on us by family, culture, or society.
Over time, those voices can become the soundtrack of our lives.
They whisper things like:“You’re not good enough.”“Who do you think you are?”“Don’t try—you might fail.”
But here’s the truth Sylvia explores in this episode:
Just because a voice lives in your mind doesn’t mean it’s telling you the truth.
Together with guests Gabriel Lopez Kafati, Anthony Corona, and Nikki Jeffords, Sylvia dives into an honest, humorous, and insightful conversation about self-talk, imposter syndrome, shame, growth, and the courage to rewrite our internal narrative.
This episode is full of reflection, laughter, and practical tools to help you transform the voice inside your head from critic to ally.
🌊 In This Episode We Explore
✨ The personalities of our inner voicesIf your inner voice had a job, what would it be?From event planners of overthinking to circus ringmasters and archive managers, the conversation begins with humor and honesty.
✨ Where our inner voices come fromChildhood messages, school environments, cultural expectations, and the labels others place on us often become the stories we carry into adulthood.
✨ The lingering voices of our younger selvesAnthony shares a powerful insight:
“We carry every age we’ve ever been—the 7-year-old, the 17-year-old, the 27-year-old. Sometimes those younger versions of ourselves are still whispering.”
✨ Imposter syndrome and the illusion of not belongingEven when we succeed, many of us still feel grateful to be invited to the table, even though we “know” we belong and “they are lucky to have us.”.
✨ The difference between humility and self-doubtHealthy humility keeps us learning.Self-doubt keeps us small.
✨ Shame vs. GrowthShame says: You are not “normal.”_Growth says: _You are learning.
✨ How to challenge the inner criticWe discuss practical tools such as:
- Naming the voice
- Asking “Is this actually true?”
- Looking for evidence
- Reframing the narrative
Instead of saying:❌ “I can’t do this.”
Try:✅ “I’m learning how to do this.”
💬 Quotes From the Conversation
“Courage is not the absence of doubt. It is the decision that something else matters more.”— Franklin D. Roosevelt
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”— Winnie the Pooh
“Writing is talking to yourself with the hope of being overheard.”— Marty Rubin
And of course, a classic reminder from Saturday Night Live’s Stuart Smalley:
“I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me.”
🌱 Rewriting the Narrative
One of the most powerful moments in this episode comes when the group explores how to rewrite the beliefs that limit us.
Example:
Old belief:“I always fail.”
New narrative:“I’ve had setbacks, but I’m still learning and growing.”
Because ultimately:
You become the storyteller of your own life.Make sure the voice telling the story believes in you.
💛 The Power of Self-Compassion
A central theme of this conversation is self-compassion.
Speak to yourself the way you would speak to someone you deeply love.
Reflection alone isn’t enough.
Transformation happens when reflection turns into action.
Some ways to begin shifting your inner voice:
- Journaling
- Challenging negative thoughts
- Speaking affirmations
- Taking one brave step forward
- Borrowing courage from mentors, friends, or loved ones
Sometimes we simply ask:
“What would someone who believes in me say right now?”
A New Job for Your Inner Voice
Near the end of the episode, Sylvia asks a powerful and playful question:
If your inner critic had to retire today, what job would you give your new inner voice?
Sylvia chooses Gardener.
A gardener:
- Prunes what no longer serves us
- Plants seeds in our own lives and in others
- Works with seasons
- Practices patience
- Creates growth
Gabriel chooses to upgrade himself to Director of Information, recognizing the power of what we allow ourselves to believe and are able to share with others, rather than just “holding onto the past.”
What job would you give your inner voice?
🌊 Final Reflection
Life will always bring waves.
Doubt will appear.Fear will whisper.
But we get to choose which voice leads us forward.
Sylvia shares in her book a powerful story in her book Treading the Waters of Life, about her father surviving in the ocean after being thrown from a Navy aircraft carrier.
He didn’t know if rescue would come.
But he stayed resourceful.He stayed focused.And he kept treading.
Sometimes hope is the only plan we have left.
But hope combined with action can carry us farther than we ever imagined. He must have had to maintain positive self-talk during that experience!
📚 Continue the Journey
If today’s conversation resonated with you, explore more reflections and resources at:
TotalImpactPartners.com
There you can download Sylvia’s book:
Treading the Waters of Life
A guide to reflection and action.
🎧 Listen to the Episode
🤝 Share the Message
If this episode encouraged you, please share it with someone who may need to hear it today.
Because none of us are meant to tread the waters of life alone.
You can find past episodes of Treading the Waters in the Sunday Edition Podcast feed wherever you listen to your podcasts or buy visiting the home of the Sunday Edition Family of Podcasts and digital Media content services at:
www.anthonycorona.com
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pisode Notes
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