If you talk to yourself, it’s a sign that you are a genius! It is not simply a dramatic device used on corny TV shows to drive the plot along.
Taking a little holiday from the norm is not only therapeutic, but it can also help you digest information and make sense of the world around you.
Once upon a time, talking to yourself was considered odd and bizarre behavior. Nowadays, people assume you are taking a phone call, so there’s no reason to be embarrassed.
1. Thinking Outside the Box
On the contrary, having a quiet word with yourself indicates that you are reflective and capable of thinking outside the box.
Illustration - fizkes/Shutterstock
A study published by The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology suggested that people who talked to themselves while searching for an object from within a group of items performed better than those who didn’t.
The takeaway from this research is that self-directed talk helps people more accurately process visual information. This ability may prove decisive, say, for chess players. They have to think several moves ahead and weigh up numerous permutations of moves. Talking to themselves may well help give them a competitive edge if it improves their recall.
2. Multitasking
Meanwhile, talking to yourself also helps with multitasking, an essential ability in today’s fast-moving world. Research has shown that stifling the urge to speak to yourself will affect your ability to switch between tasks.
Illustration - Dean Drobot/Shutterstock
Self dialog, it appears, also aids memory. If your brain was a computer (perhaps it is), then talking to yourself is the equivalent of RAM, the memory used for processing information currently in front of you.
3. Positivity
Best of all, talking to yourself helps manage your emotions. So there’s something in the phrase talking yourself out of, or through, something. Talking out loud enables you to rationalize things and avoids letting anger get the better of you.
Illustration - Max4e Photo/Shutterstock
Generally speaking, people who self-narrate are better able to maintain a positive outlook on life than those who bottle everything up inside. Negativity can shake our self-belief as we navigate life and its challenges. Positive pep-talking yourself, then, will swing you from negativity to positivity.
There is something life-affirming about self-talking and swinging your mood to a more favorable setting. Without a doubt, negative energy begets negative energy. Those who are of a positive mindset receive positive energy back and enjoy a more productive and happier life.
Conclusion
It is all about self-esteem and being your cheerleader. Self-talking avoids beating yourself up about stuff that you probably couldn’t control anyway. Instead, give yourself a break and provide yourself with some positive feedback. It is a significant feel-good factor and helps put matters into perspective. Life is complicated enough without occasionally putting a positive spin on your life. There is always a silver lining should you choose to look hard enough.
Illustration - Flamingo Images/Shutterstock
Without a doubt, talking to yourself is not a strange or weird thing your grandparents do. It’s a well-honed and proven tactic to help concentration. By drowning out extraneous noise and other thoughts, talking to yourself can help maintain a laser-like focus on a job over an extended period.
Here are some ideas to get you started self-talking:
Pre-task pep talk. You are the coach before a football game; square yourself up for the task ahead—self-belief goes a long way toward achieving your goals.- Talk yourself through what needs to be done; break the task down to individual steps.
- Reassure yourself as the task progresses, and don’t be shy about giving yourself a little praise along the way.
- Avoid getting negative; block out negative thoughts before it can affect the task at hand.
- Focus on the positives; you are your best cheerleader for sure.
- Don’t beat yourself up; to err is to be human—to forgive is divine.
We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at [email protected]
