5 Things to Say When Your Daughter Is Being Really Hard on Herself

Welcome to Raising Confident Girls. In this episode, Melissa Jones dives into a challenge many girls face—but don’t always talk about out loud: self-criticism. She explores how negative self-talk can quietly shape a girl’s confidence and emotional world, and why it so often comes from pressure rather than truth.

Melissa offers 5 practical, compassionate phrases parents can use to help their daughters soften their inner critic and build resilience through kinder self-talk. She reminds parents that perfection isn’t the goal—connection is. By recognizing pressure, naming the inner critic, and meeting girls where they are emotionally, parents can support their daughters in developing a healthier, more supportive relationship with themselves.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How self-criticism shows up quietly in girls’ everyday lives
• Why pressure—not truth—often fuels negative self-talk
• The power of naming the inner critic to reduce its hold
• Simple, supportive phrases parents can use in hard moments
• How embracing imperfection builds emotional resilience
• Why meeting your daughter where she is matters more than fixing feelings

Join Melissa for this thoughtful and reassuring conversation that will help you support your daughter’s confidence from the inside out—by fostering kind self-talk, emotional awareness, and a deeper sense of self-acceptance.

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If you know a parent who could benefit from this conversation, share this episode with them! Let’s work together to raise the next generation of confident girls.

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