Getting used Quote by Marya Hornbacher
““This is the weird aftermath, when it is not exactly over, and yet you have given it up. You go back and forth in your head, often, about giving it up. It’s hard to understand, when you are sitting there in your chair, having breakfast or whatever, that giving it up is stronger than holding on, that “letting yourself go” could mean you have succeeded rather than failed. You eat your goddamn Cheerios and bicker with the bitch in your head that keeps telling you you’re fat and weak: Shut up, you say, I’m busy, leave me alone. When she leaves you alone, there’s a silence and a solitude that will take some getting used to. You will miss her sometimes...There is, in the end, the letting go.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Best Little Girl in the World, Marya Hornbacher, 1998
The quote describes the paradox of feeling both relief and loss after ending a struggle, and the lingering inner critic that persists even when the external battle is over.
In simple terms: Letting go can feel both freeing and unsettling, with inner doubts lingering.
Key Takeaway
Accept the silence and learn to be comfortable with yourself.
Themes
self‑acceptance
inner conflict
letting go
mental health
Mood
reflective
somber
hopeful
Type
personal
psychological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- recovering from addiction
- ending a toxic relationship
- post‑career transition
- dealing with chronic illness
Key Concepts
psychology
self‑compassion
cognitive dissonance
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the “silence” feel like after you stop fighting?
- How can you quiet the inner voice that labels you as weak?
A Different Perspective
The inner critic may dominate, making the peace fragile and temporary.
