Listen to Your Inner Voice

In those stressful moments, the ones where it feels as though you’re balancing the weight of the world on your shoulders, or as if you’re backed into a corner, trying to figure out an exit, it seems almost impossible to get out of that space. Both physically, and mentally.  But what if taking some deep breaths, and a simple conversation with yourself, could give you that encouragement to push through for better days? Positive self-talk has been shown to help reduce anxiety in athletes during tournaments, ultimately strengthening their performance¹ and has even been noted to enhance coping skills in individuals diagnosed with illnesses such as breast cancer². Positive self-talk is described as being an “inner monologue that makes you feel good about who you are and the things going on around you”³. However in times of stress and anxiety, it may be difficult to see the positivity in anything. But if only in that moment, we could simply remember to take a deep breath, and let our inner voice be spoken outwardly. Research has shown that individual talk to oneself influences thoughts, feelings, as well as behavior⁴. With this being said, self-talk may prove beneficial in helping us establish healthy ways of overcoming stressful conditions. And because no one person is the same, positive self-talk may come in many forms. One person may find that implementing self-talk is best by journaling the words they speak while others may find it useful to say the words out loud, exactly as they are in the moment. Some may find it helpful to simply close their eyes, and listen to that inner self pep talk. No matter what positive self-talk looks like for you, may it be your words that help you see the light at the end of the tunnel.