Voices in My Head — Meeting My Inner Parts
I used to think of my thoughts as one single stream — my “voice.” Then I discovered that the voice was actually a chorus. Each one with its own perspective, its own memories, and its own way of trying to protect me.
Narrative:
In this episode of Ill Zebra’s Transformations, I explore the concept of “parts” from Dr. Richard Schwartz’s Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy model. He calls them “parts” rather than “voices” because the word voices can carry stigma. And I agree — labeling can harm. I’ve been labeled, and I’ve labeled others when I didn’t know better. Neither felt right.
My journey into meeting my parts began when I reached out to my friend Mara on impulse. She created a safe space for me to relax, zoom in, and get curious. That’s when my parts began revealing themselves.
First came “Blankness Protest,” a part that resisted feeling anything. Then, peeking playfully from behind Blankness Protest’s black curtain, came “Joy Mischief.” These two, I learned, were “buddies.” From there, other parts appeared:
ILZE — the rule-following little girl named by her mother.
BE — the free-spirited artist who signs her paintings with her married name from her second husband.
Wizard — wise, but often pushed away for being “too much.”
Lioness — strong and nurturing.
Chameleon — mysterious, cautious, and a reminder of a vivid moment on a Mediterranean island when I held a pregnant chameleon and felt her tiny eggs inside.
This exploration coincided with Mercury in retrograde — a time astrologers say brings introspection. I found myself turning inward, journaling, and holding back from revealing all my discoveries right away.
Reading from Dr. Schwartz’s No Bad Parts, I shared his insight: we all have multiple parts. That’s not a disorder — it’s a gift. Our parts are not flaws to be eliminated, but protectors shaped by our experiences. Hating them only deepens the wounds. Listening to them can heal.
I ended with a real-life example: feeling a sudden tightness in my stomach when an email notification appeared. I zoomed in and found my Chameleon part again. We “talked,” agreed it was safe to check the message, and it turned out to be good news.
Key Takeaways
Listen to the full episode here to hear how I met my inner parts — from Blankness Protest to Joy Mischief — and why I believe there are no bad parts, only protectors.
Keywords:
internal family systems, IFS therapy, no bad parts, self-healing, inner parts work, trauma recovery, journaling for healing, midlife transformation
