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You may have caught yourself talking to yourself, whether it’s reminding yourself about tasks or processing your emotions out loud. This simple habit often feels comforting and can be incredibly useful. After all, sometimes your own voice is your biggest motivator.
Talking to yourself might seem strange. However, there are a variety of reasons why people do it, TIME reports. It’s more than perfectly normal — in fact, it can serve as a powerful mental strategy.
Why People Talk to Themselves
Talking to yourself isn’t just common chatter — it’s a practical technique. According to Thomas Brinthaupt, a professor emeritus of psychology at Middle Tennessee State University, it can operate like a thermostat, influencing the temperature of your emotions.
External self-talk can also help you move towards your goals, give yourself feedback, and assist with analyzing challenging tasks. Some people also use it to prepare what they want to say ahead of time.
The Benefits of Talking to Yourself
While this habit might feel unusual, it can have a positive impact on your life. Discover the benefits of this wellness tool and how it can help you thrive.
Boosts Self-Worth
One benefit of external self-talk is that it can improve the relationship you have with yourself, according to Real Simple. “When you speak out loud to yourself, you’re re-parenting the parts of yourself that didn’t get the chance to develop a more grounded self-worth,” Grace Lautman, LMHC, a mental health clinician, tells Real Simple. Talking to yourself is a way to acknowledge that you are in charge as an adult. Trusting yourself is a key factor for building self-worth and tuning out other noises.
A Way to Emotionally Regulate
By talking yourself through things, you can help your nervous system to feel safe. “If you’re feeling really bad about a mistake or a problem in your life, but you say to yourself, ‘what you’re feeling makes sense. It’s human,’ that can be really grounding and feel less scary,” Lautman says. Choosing a phrase or mantra to repeat can be a big help amid ups and downs.
Creates Space for Curiosity
According to Saba H. Lurie, LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist, talking to yourself creates an environment for self-inquiry, with curiosity leading to more awareness and understanding of yourself. “What many of us need is a more compassionate voice that offers care, encouragement, understanding, and honest accountability. Cultivating that kind of internal support can help us to develop and improve in a healthy way without shame or avoidance,” Laurie explains.
This might be as simple as asking yourself questions to get to know your inner world better or trying a journaling practice where you read your answers out loud. You’re never too old to ask questions.
So remember, even if talking to yourself feels a little odd, it comes with big benefits. Start small and ask yourself how you feel and why, and don’t be afraid to voice your thoughts out loud. This powerful practice could make a big difference in your mental wellness.
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