Have you ever found yourself speaking out loud, by yourself? Perhaps while cleaning, walking, or feeling anxious? Don’t worry—this is completely normal. Many people speak out loud to themselves. Most people do, it every day. Sometimes, they whisper. Other times, they speak at full volume. But why is that
More importantly, is it good? Or is it some issue that needs to be addressed?
Read more: How Social Media is Changing Human Identity
Talking to Yourself Happens a Lot
Self-talk happens more than you may even be aware of. People talk to themselves in both conscious and non-conscious ways when they are trying to solve problems. They may be trying to remind themselves, vent about a problem, or express their feelings. There are lots of levels to self-talk: sometimes, people will talk out loud. Other times, they talk to themselves in their heads.
This is not an unusual behavior. It is a part of the human condition. Young children, even before they use language to communicate, talk to themselves while they play and think. It is a way to organize their thinking.
It Helps You Stay Organized
When you are faced with a task that feels very difficult, sometimes the most effective technique to help organize those thoughts is self-talk. For example, you may say to yourself, “Okay, I’m first going to do this.” These self-generated words give order to the task. They give structure to your actions. They put your mind at ease and action into order.
In fact, athletes rely on this technique. You hear athletes say things like, “I can do this!” or “Stay focused.” Their own words are keeping them focused and encouraged.
Self-Talk Motivates Us
We use self-talk to motivate ourselves. Just before a test or challenge, we might say something like “I got this.” These messages can provide power; they inject confidence and remove fear. They allow us to have faith in our abilities again.
It Calms Anxiety
We all use self-talk to combat stress. Something as simple to say to ourselves as “it’s going to be okay,” has an important deranging effect on fear! Repetition of the words you tell yourself to reduce anxiety allows your mind to calm down. In turn, panic can turn into peace.
That’s why therapists often suggest self-talk to anxious people. You have a sense of dominance in your emotional state when you practice self-talk and talk kindly to yourself.
It Helps You Organize Thoughts
Thinking often feels “messy.” There may be many different thoughts flooding through the brain at the same moment. Self-talk allows us to organize those threads of thought. It allows us to “list things out” with our voice and make sense of them.
Psychological Sense: Why Does the Brain Talk to Itself?
From a psychological perspective, self-talk is a purposeful part of brain function. Psychologists suggest that it organizes thinking and memory, and it can impact emotion. Self-talk encourages different brain pathways where learning and attention are accessed.
Self-talk also supports problem-solving. When people face a task that feels unmanageable, self-talk can make sequential steps clearer. It can mitigate the feelings of being overwhelmed in the mind. So, see self-talk for what it is- a way to enhance performance, not a sign of weakness can be a skill.
Self-Talk Enhances Emotional Resilience
Self-talk serves the emotional part of your heart in addition to the mental function of your brain. Positive self-talk generates positive feelings. It produces hope and emotional strength. If I say to myself “I am strong,” I will start to feel strong, too.
Self-talk also has a place in healing emotional wounds, pain, and melancholy. Words can switch negative or disconcerting feelings to feelings of understanding. They transform self-doubt into courage. Over time, self-talk creates a more resilient emotional self (calm, confident, and grounded)
When Does Self-Talk Help?
Self-talk is helpful during difficult tasks. Self-talk shines when we are confused, unsure, or not sure what to do. For example, learning a new skill or managing one’s time.
Self-talk also helps during feeding times. When we feel angry, discouraged, or happy, the words we are thinking help us to understand feelings. It allows for awareness and practice on how responses better. Thus, avoiding harm to ourselves and others.
Children Self-Talk Without Hesitation
You may have seen in children when they play, or just think aloud to themselves. Specifically, when children verbalize their thoughts using self-talk: “Now the truck goes here.” “This is my house.” Self-talk, as described above, demonstrates that the brain is working.
As children develop, they begin to think without speaking or acting out loud. Nevertheless, the brain is still self-talking when children move on to more complex inputs. So, just like children, adults also experience self-talk! It is still present and supports learning and imagination.
It Simplifies Decision-Making
There are times when we’re faced with decisions. Whether big or small, they can be difficult to navigate. It’s helpful to speak our thoughts out loud. We can weigh the pluses and the minuses as we let words show us each way forward.
This voice becomes our compass. It helps clear confusion. It helps to direct what we will do. Also, it can help to avoid errors. Hearing our thoughts helps to determine how we proceed with care.
Self-Talk Contributes to Confidence
Positive self-talk helps to build a sense of self-worth. If someone is saying “I am enough” often enough, there’s a good chance they will believe it. In time, words change the mind.
Negative self-talk does the opposite. Saying “I’m not good” takes the last bit of our confidence. And that’s why we must be careful with the words we use within. They inform everything we think about ourselves.
Psychology: The Inner Voice is Important
Psychologists have a principle involving our inner voice to assess someone’s mental health. The words we tell ourselves create our mood. Happy words uplift; disparaging words hurt us.
Therapists attempt to keep track of the self-talk a person engages in. They replace negative cycles with kinder cycles. This small behavior change may lead to big healing. Mental health and self-talk work together.
Talking to Yourself in Public
Some people feel cohort, thinking that others will laugh at them – but really it’s OK – as long as it helps then it’s even silly. If someone looks, smile. They likely do it too, or get it. The world is more accepting of these habits now.
Is It EVER a Problem?
Mostly, self-talk is healthy. However, if one talks to themselves in a way that can bring harm and/or confusion, then maybe there will need to be help considered. If the sound of their words is scary or if the person seems lost, then they should talk to a mental health professional (MHP).
The biggest check is how the self-talk feels. If it feels helpful and clear, then it is likely to be healthy. If it feels scary or harmful; then it is time to ask for support.
How We Can Encourage Healthy Self-Talk
Small steps, begin small, say nice things, etc. Begin with saying things like “I can”, I am learning” and “I am okay”. Look in front of a mirror and smile. Say at least one good thing about yourself each day. Write your good words down. Before you know it, your brain will have grown used to it. You will begin to think more kindly, and the emotions you feel will become more strong.
Eliminate the Negative
Negative self-talk creeps in. “You’re a failure.” Stop! Respond, “I am in the process of trying.” Turn fear into hope. Turn anger into peace. Swapping them out takes practice, but it works.
Even if you slip once in a while, stay the course. The brain learns over time. Take small steps.
Use Self-Talk at Challenging Times
When you start to feel nervous before the next test, speak! Say, “I prepared well.” If you start to feel sad… say “This will pass,” Speak some lines and the quiet storm can calm you.
Words have energy and you can harness them, to uplift, and heal someone.
When words are used carefully and knowingly with energy, they can benefit us all.
