How many times you feel depressed after an exam that you haven’t been performed well? And do you have also noticed your inner dialogue in your head when you feeling depressed? Psychologists found that this “talking to yourself” is a form of inner dialogue and may be a way to self motivation.
The research found that there are always two types of inner dialogues in head: positive and negative. This definition is abstract, and for instance, there is a speech tomorrow in class which speakers are voluntary to give a speech. I will have these two types of inner dialogue: the positive inner dialogue will say “I’m going to give a speech about the human rights throughout the history, and it’s important to contribute my points to my audiences”; the negative inner dialogue will say “I’m not going to give a speech, and it’s so foolish and embarrassed if I say a wrong thing”. These inner dialogues have powerful influence over your course of actions.
Then talking about the benefits of self-talk. Reading a passage The Benefits of Self-Talk by Kriston Wong from New York Times, there also are two types of self-talk: instructional and motivational self-talk. Motivational self-talk is the way that I suggest everyone to practice. Practicing motivational self-talk, for instance, is talking “I can do it” to yourself before an important competition and interview. It seems foolish, but it works especially by talking out loudly.
“One study published in Procedia — Social and Behavioral Sciences researched the effects of both motivational and instructional self-talk on subjects playing basketball. It found that players passed the basketball faster when they motivated themselves through the task out loud.”
The extending research also found that not only talking out loudly to yourself is effective, but also talking to yourself in a second or third person helps. Some college students are always afraid of standing in front of a class to present a presentation or a speech. For example, my friend John will present his speech next day in class, and he will be the first presenter. The best way I suggest to him is going to a bathroom and facing the mirror and talking loudly “John, you can achieve this” to himself. Then he has greater chances to have a successful speech.
Don’t feel too shy to talk to yourself. After practicing, researchers prove that self-talk is an effective way for self motivation.