Chances are, before you started reading this, you were probably talking to yourself. Self-talk involves all the daily banter you normally have internally, even when you may not realize it. You can think of self-talk as that inner voice which says things on the inside that you don’t speak out loud. It is comparable to a steady and continuous commentary that goes on in the background of your mind.
What are the types of self-talk?
The things you say in your mind can significantly affect the way you feel about yourself. You can either engage in:
Constructive self-talk
This is a voice of optimism in your head that encourages you and always looks on the bright side. Having such positive self-talk spurs you on, makes you focus on the things that make you feel great about yourself and your circumstances. Some examples include: ‘I am up to the task!” or “I’m so glad I made that decision”.
Destructive self-talk
This type of self-talk leaves you feeling inadequate and in low spirits. Such negative talk traps you in a position of doubt and low self-worth and severely detracts from your confidence. Inner musings like “I don’t think I’m good enough” or “There’s no way I can get that promotion” are all destructive self-talk.
How does self-talk affect you?
The way you speak to yourself can greatly impact your mindset and disposition. If you talk to yourself kindly and in an upbeat sort of way, you may notice a surge in your productivity. On the other hand, criticizing and doubting yourself incessantly can affect you negatively. Some obvious effects of positive self-talk include:
- Building your self-esteem
- Boosting your confidence
- Helping you make tough decisions
- Improving your concentration and attention span
- Feeling in control
- Making friends easily
How can your career benefit from better self-talk?
Positive self-directed talk can be very valuable to your career and life as a whole. Talking to yourself in an uplifting manner helps you to focus on the positive aspects of challenging situations and can serve as a motivation for you to accomplish tasks like making a big presentation, negotiating with a client or even getting out of bed in the mornings.
Now that you understand that self-talk is like an everyday pep-talk, how can you improve your self-talk and regularly keep it constructive? Here are some helpful tips:
Compliment yourself
This kind of self-talk showers you with the kind of compliments that can put a spring in your step. You give yourself encouragement without waiting for someone else to do so. This ultimately leads to a boost in your confidence and self-worth. So, never hesitate to reward yourself with a compliment after you meet that deadline or satisfy that difficult client.
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Converse with yourself
We all face difficult situations and mounting pressures at work. From compiling reports to giving presentations and meeting deadlines, there are usually many hard decisions to be made. Having an open conversation with yourself helps to define clearly the things you need to do. You can then be confident about what you need to and why you need to do it.
Motivate yourself
On days when you just don’t feel like getting out of bed to go to work, or you are stylishly avoiding a tough project, this type of self-talk comes in handy. Saying soothing and stimulating words to yourself can greatly increase your motivation and enhance your productivity. Instead of harshly telling yourself to take care of a task in a derogatory tone, try speaking kindly to yourself and watch how you are motivated!
Set goals for yourself
When setting goals, like losing weight06 or writing a book, self-directed speech is vital because it keeps you focused and emphasizes the things you’re trying to accomplish. So, the next time you’re trying to make a plan or achieve an objective, make sure you talk to and guide yourself through the steps needed to attain those goals.
It goes without saying that self-talk can either boost or sabotage your career. While negative contemplations can promote inefficiency and poor performance in the workplace, constructive self-talk can highly enhance originality, goal setting and achievements, creativity and leadership skills. You may have become very accustomed to destructive self-talk patterns and may not know how to make a turn for the better. Well, guess what? It’s never too late! Make a habit of observing your self-talk and start to speak to yourself in a friendlier tone. You will notice a change in how you see yourself, and better yet, others will notice it too!
Cloe Mayfair is a successful personal trainer and mom. Her hobbies include design, fitness, fashion, cooking, writing, and raising her kids. She is eagerly planning their next family vacation.