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How to Take Control of Your Own Self-Talk
Turn the voice in your head into a personal ally
We hardly pay attention to it. But it’s going on all the time.
In fact, you’re doing it right now. What am I talking about?
You’re reading this article. You may be listening to music or occasionally glancing out the window or across the room. There are lots of things going on around you, and you’re taking some or all of it in.
And accompanying your visual meanderings is the voice in your head — continually describing, questioning, even chastising in it’s own special way.
Our verbal companion is ever at our side, chattering away even as we attempt to squelch the noise. While our persistent partner can often be a comfort — supportive and encouraging when we’re uncertain — it can also lead us in other directions that keep us from reaching our goals.
Here’s the good news: By acknowledging we have a verbal tool at our disposal, we can choose to hone a few skills to use self-talk as a personal ally — one we can count on no matter what lands in our lap.
Here’s a short excerpt from a story in Real Life that offers a few suggestions on how to manage your inner voice.
