If you have ever wondered if other people talk to themselves, the answer is yes. In one form or another, everyone has a voice in their head. This voice has a lot to say, and we listen. According to Ethan Kross, author of ‘Chatter’, if you have ever replayed a conversation in your mind, or coached yourself through a problem or skill, you’ve used your inner voice. Most people rely on and benefit from theirs every day. But what happens when our inner coach turns into the inner critic?
A critical remark can be something we shrug off (he doesn’t know the real me) or something that devastates us (do people really see me that way?) depending on our perspective. But when the voice comes from within (you are so forgetful, how can you be so stupid!) we can lose perspective. After all, we know our true selves better than anyone else.
The clients I work with often find themselves stuck in negative self-talk and turning the talk around is an important part of coaching. On the current episode of the podcast, I share several ways to bring awareness to the voice in our heads and make peace with it. There are practical tips that help us become the ‘cheerleader’ vs. the ‘critic’:
- How to bring awareness to the voice in your head
- How others can help
- The power of perspective, aka self-distancing
If you struggle with negative self-talk, I am offering a book study, starting at the end of September, that will feature Chatter by Ethan Kross. This series will provide practical steps to turn that voice into your on-call coach!
Find out more about the Book Study: Chatter HERE
