Lessons in Self-Talk

Self-talk is a constant stream of conversation running along inside of our heads — it is happening whether we are aware of it or not. Should I call her? Should I eat another doughnut? It can be positive or negative, motivational or instructional. It can be empowering, and it can be debilitating.  All of our environments are filtered through ourselves — we interpret the world and environments and people around us, and it is that interpretation which becomes the truth of our world. Self-talk influences how we see the world. We should take note. The Filter Imagine you live in an apartment building in Chicago. If your downstairs neighbor has negative self-talk and your upstairs neighbor has positive self-talk, then the way they experience the same environment will be significantly different.  On a spring day in Chicago, as it begins to rain, the downstairs neighbor might be upset about the weather. They might lament the puddles filling in the street. They might curse the idea that they cannot comfortably walk outside.  On that same rainy day, your upstairs neighbor might also look out the window and see that it is raining. That neighbor, whose filter is colored by positive self-talk, might recognize that the jog they were planning is going to be a wet one, but that might actually be fun. If they do not feel like getting wet, they might just save their jog for later. That same neighbor might take it one step further to recognize that the rain is going to nourish cro...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Memory and Perception Mindfulness Self-Esteem Self-Help Optimism Perspective Pessimism Self-Talk Source Type: blogs