Friday, December 26, 2014

Self Talk On Freaky Friday...!

Do you talk to yourself? No, really! This is a real question and you might be surprised to know that it's quite normal to do it!

Seems that research has shown a certain benefit to indulging in "self talk." It's true that some folks might look at you funny, but I wouldn't worry about that. This article from KnowledgeNuts tells all about this particular activity, OK?

Why Talking To Yourself Doesn’t Mean You’re Crazy
By Debra Kelly on Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Getting caught talking to yourself is always a little bit embarrassing. There’s a certain taboo attached to it, not the least of which is the suggestion that talking to yourself is what crazy people do. But researchers have now found that talking to yourself not only helps you focus your mind and motivation, but it can help with a healthier self-image and enhance performance.

It’s something we pretty much all do, and when we’re caught doing it, there’s a certain amount of embarrassment that usually goes along with it. We’ve always been told that talking to yourself is the first sign you’re going off the deep, and it’s been associated with mental illness and instability.

But now, research has found that there’s absolutely no need to be shy about talking to yourself. Far from being a sign of mental illness, it’s quite the opposite.

Because everything has to have a new and updated name, the idea of talking to yourself is called self-talk or, in some cases, it’s referred to as private speech.

Different people talk to themselves in different situations and in different amounts—some say something aloud to themselves once or twice a day, some have entire conversations with themselves on their commute home from work. Regardless of how often we do it, it’s been found that it can serve a very positive purpose and certainly isn’t something to be embarrassed about doing.

Researchers first tested people by asking them to find something in a store. One group was told to repeat the name of the item, the other group was instructed not to. The group talking to themselves was much more successful much faster, and a subsequent experiment has found that self-talk can be particularly useful when you already have something of a connection with whatever you’re saying. You’re more likely to have a better success rate practicing repetitious self-talk when you know what it is you’re looking for, as opposed to, say, looking for a business in a plaza when you you have no clue what their sign looks like.

Self-talk might not mean you’re crazy, but it can still be harmful. Researchers from the University of Thessaly in Greece have found that self-talk has a measurable impact on not just mood but motivation. Being positive in your self-talk can make a huge difference in our performance of certain tasks.

Next time you start to talk to yourself, listen to how you’re addressing yourself. If you’re saying “I” a lot, start referring to yourself as “you.” Researchers suggest that simply switching how you refer to yourself might help the brain process the information you’re giving yourself. Rather than scolding yourself in the first person, suddenly the words take on the air of the advice of a trusted friend.

You’re not crazy when you do it, but you can damage yourself emotionally by criticizing yourself too much—especially when you say it out loud.

Self-talk begins when we’re young. Listen to a child just learning how to talk, and you’ll probably hear her repeating words back to herself that she’s learning. It’s a good way for children to start developing language, and as they get older, the role of self-talk changes—but becomes no less important. Toddlers and young children will often reinforce their successes with praising themselves, and we do much the same thing as we get older.

So, it’s a completely natural thing to do, and there’s no reason to be embarrassed about holding an entire conversation with yourself.

Now I don't know about you, but I think that we all talk to ourselves more than we might want to say, especially right after the holidays. Seems pretty normal to me. But then, I've always been considered a tad strange!

Coffee out on the patio this morning. 70 with a slight chance of rain, OK?

9 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

Yeah, but I can't ever remember what I tell myself.

Rob said...

When you're out talking to yourself in the cereal aisle you just tell that lady stepping away from you that you read on KnowledgeNuts that talking to yourself like that is normal.

Then again maybe you had bluetooth thingee in your ear and are really talking on the phone.

Mamahen said...

Glad t o know i'm not crazy ....now to convince everyone else lol...patio it is...i'll bring Christmas cookies ....someone has to help eat them up :))

linda m said...

I "self talk" when I am going for a walk. People probably think I'm on a cell phone. Usually I am ranting and raving about some stupid thing I just heard about. Glad to know I'm not crazy. Can't believe the sun is actually out and shining today. Hope you had a nice Christmas

JO said...

I talk to myself all the time after all if it is about something in questions who can better answer it than me.

We are having a hard freeze warning tonight and it is down right cold now so your patio sounds wonderful.

HermitJim said...

Hey Gorges...
I seem to have that problem as well. Must not have been important!

Thanks for coming over today!



Hey Rob...
You just never know now days. Could be so many different things!

Thanks for dropping by this morning!



Hey Mamahen...
Convincing others will always be the hard part!

I need me some cookies! Guess I'll have to bake my own this year.

Thanks for coming over today!



Hey Linda...
Seems like a good time to me. No one else will listen as well as ourselves!

Thanks for stopping by today!



Hey Jo...
Can't believe you are having a freeze warning!

Better come down to visit Texas!

Thanks for the visit, sweetie!

Dizzy-Dick said...

I talk to myself mainly because I am always here. . . and of course I am the smartest man I know (grin). Wrong!!

HermitJim said...

Hey Dizzy...
The always available part I'll agree with, but the other...jury is still out on that one!

Thanks for coming over today!

Caddie said...

This is VERY common. I see hundreds and more self-talkers out in public so involved with their chatter they often will knock you down and they always have a hand over one ear - Maybe they are discussing an earache? I just don't know but no matter the popular conclusion of this talking to yourself being normal - I think its a bad mental problem that's spreading fast and furious like a deadly virus!