Talk to yourself...

Swami Vivekananda said:

“Talk to yourself atleast once in a Day… Otherwise you may miss a meeting with an EXCELLENT person in this World…”

—  Swami Vivekananda

Talking to yourself is often thought of as something only children or crazy people do, but research shows that engaging in a little self-conversation as an adult isn’t only completely normal — it’s good for you.

Talking to yourself, both in your head and out loud, is quite common, with many people reporting they talk to themselves on an almost-hourly basis.

Such self-directed speech is common in children, who often narrate tasks as they perform them. For example, a child learning to tie his shoes may recite, “Over, under, pull it tight. Make a bow, pull it through to do it right.”

This self-talk helps children stay on task and it guides their actions so they can master the job at hand. The same is true for adults.

1. Your brain work more efficiently

I hate grocery shopping, mostly because I can never find what I’m looking for. I find myself muttering “cilantro, cilantro, cilantro…” as I sort through various herbs and spices in search of the only one I’ll ever be able to recognize without a label. I’m glad to find I’m not the only one. 

2. Children learn

If you have or work with children, you know they almost never shut up! But that’s a good thing. As children grow, they use their voice to mimic adult conversation (okay, that’s not always good). But they learn vocal inflection, vocabulary, and syntax by listening to and repeating what their parents say. 

3. Organize thoughts

In today’s busy world, we have a million thoughts running through our heads at all times. Our thoughts get jumbled up in our minds and can become incredibly overwhelming if left unchecked. Talking through your thoughts, much like children do, helps you prioritize the “big things” affecting you. It also helps us realize the “small stuff” is fairly insignificant, and we had been making mountains out of molehills.

4. Achieve goals

Making a to-do list sounds like a great idea, but if the list gets too long it can be overwhelming. Not only does talking through your list of obligations help prioritize them, but it also makes your goals seem attainable. Much like repeating “corn flakes” over and over at the store subconsciously jogs your recall and makes “corn flakes” a tangible item in your mind, talking through your to-do list allows you to visualize yourself completing the tasks you’ve written down.

5. Relieve stress

Since talking to yourself allows you to organize your thoughts and prioritize your obligations, your mind isn’t constantly racing, wondering when you’re going to have enough time to get it all done. In turn, you’ll become more relaxed and able to go with the flow. Furthermore, talking to yourself helps you prepare for difficult times in life, such as a conversation with a loved one, colleague, or boss. Whether giving yourself a simple pep talk or rehearsing what you’re going to say, hearing the words come out of your mouth make the action doable, and allowing you to face tough situations with courage and confidence.

6. Foster self-reliance

Those that talk to themselves look inward when they need help solving a problem. While others may automatically go to a colleague or supervisor when in need of assistance, people who talk to themselves are able to analyze situations and come to conclusions independently without any outside guidance. Also, by talking to ourselves, we listen to our inner voice, and discover what it is we truly want to get out an experience.