The Power of Talking to Yourself

And, no, you are not crazy

“You will become what you think about most; your success or failure in anything, large or small, will depend on your programming—what you accept from others, and what you say when you talk to yourself. Give life to your dreams, give strength to your visions, and give light to your path.”—Shad Helmstetter; it is from his book "What to Say When You Talk to Yourself,"

The Power of Talking to Yourself

And, no, you are not crazy.

By Kristin Wong, New York Times

June 8, 2017

"A stranger approached me at a grocery store. "Do you need help finding something?" he asked. At first, I wasn't sure what he meant. Then the realization kicked in: I was talking out loud, to myself, in public. It was a habit I'd grown so comfortable with that I didn't even realize I was doing it."

"The fairly common habit of talking aloud to yourself is what psychologists call external self-talk. And although self-talk is sometimes looked at as just an eccentric quirk, research has found that it can influence behavior and cognition."

"Language provides us with this tool to gain distance from our own experiences we're reflecting on our lives, and that's really why it's us useful," said Ethan Kross, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan."

"When we talk to ourselves, we're trying to see things more objectively, Mr. Kross said; therefore, how you talk to yourself matters. The two types of self-talk you're most likely familiar with are instructional self-talk, like talking yourself through a task, and motivational self-talk, like telling yours "lf, "I can do "his." It might be corny, but motivating yourself out loud can work."

For some, talking to yourself out loud is considered a strange habit. However, in reality, it is a healthy and natural practice. Many people do it when they are trying to solve something, trying to straighten out their thoughts, or even trying to settle their nerves. Rather than a symptom of someone unusual, talking to yourself is a tool that can help you think, solve problems more effectively, and perform better on special occasions.

Talking out loud is a focused and deliberate way of interacting with your thoughts. This helps you slow down and brings you closer to how you're thinking. Saying you're triaging a tough problem out loud, for instance, can give you some fresh perspective on the matter. When you hear your own voice speaking the problem, it becomes more real, and thus more manageable, which is often the first step to a solution.

Speaking to yourself can also help you do better on tasks. Athletes, for example, practice that when they want to remain motivated and driven. They may say phrases to ease their insecurities or describe step by step what they are doing during their routine. It is this inner voice that allows them to tighten the reins and do their best. The same idea goes for what we do in our day-to-day lives. If you go on explaining the same to yourself, you will find it easier to follow and avoid making mistakes.

Benefits of Talking to Yourself: Emotional Clarity

Another gain from talking to yourself is the emotional clarity it can provide. Some days, life feels too heavy, and your thoughts seem to be all over the place. When you say it all out loud, it helps you sort through those thoughts and makes it more clear about what is bothering you or what needs to happen. This can be useful when you're feeling anxious or stuck. Hearing your concerns in your own voice can demystify things and make them feel smaller and more manageable.

You may feel concerned that talking to yourself sounds weird, but it signifies self-awareness and problem-solving skills. Speaking your mind allows you to focus more clearly on your own mind elsewhere. It is a form of putting your thinking to work, which can cause more finely attuned perceptions and better choices.

In our busy, noisy world, talking to yourself can be a way to tune out distractions and tune into your inner voice. When you're working through a challenge, prepping for an important task, or trying to stay grounded, speaking out loud to yourself can be a tool of incomparable value. It is a simple yet impactful habit that helps you connect with your ideas and thus understand this world better.

So next time you talk with yourself, relish this as proof that you are following a wise and pragmatic game plan for winning in life. You are not being weird; you are being resourceful.