3 science-backed reasons why ‘self-talk’ can boost your mental health

Energetic Anil Kapoor walks into a set saying, “kya lag raha hai yaar tu!” and delivers a shot that can put new-age actors to shame. A lost-on-the-shady-railway-tracks Kareena Kapoor still thinks she’s her favourite in Jab We Met despite her circumstances. A nervous Salman Khan tells himself, “Re sultan karde chatai”, and wins a wrestling match against heavier opponents in Sultan. 

If you think all this is just a part of high-end Bollywood drama, you’re highly mistaken. Self-talk can help you a great deal in real life too and is damn good for your mental health. Here’s why: 

1. It can boost your self-esteem
A study, published in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, observed that participants, who took the name of the item they were supposed to find as a part of the study out loud, were able to find it more quickly. 

This simply means that we tend to register and absorb what we say to ourselves more quickly. Now, imagine giving yourself positive affirmations like “I can do it”, “I look beautiful”, “I will rock this presentation”, and see what they can do to you. In simple words, they can give your confidence and self-esteem a great boost.

Also, read: Make sound mental health a part of your 2020 goals. Here’s how

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2. It can help you get through anxiety
“Should I tell him or not”, “should I try this or not”, “should I buy this or that”, “should I try harder or let him go”, no matter how serious or non-serious a situation is, life needs us to make decisions at every turn. This can easily cause anxiety—thanks to all the resulting confusion and mess in your head. 

However, talking out loud to yourself can clarify your thoughts and help you make better decisions as per Psych Central, a mental health social network website. Needless to say, once the decision is made, the anxiety will automatically go away for good.

3. It can make you feel less lonely
In life, there will be times when you feel like you’re all alone in a situation, but if you engage in some positive self-talk during that time, your inner, wiser self can become your best friend and help you get through it all. 

In fact, a study, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, talks about how people, who are lonely usually talk to themselves to make themselves feel better.

Y’all know how loneliness can lead to depression and other mental health problems. How about saving yourself from it by becoming your own BFF? Think about it and value the importance of self-talk.