Talking to Yourself Doesn’t Make You Crazy. In Fact, It Can Actually Change Your Life

There is something interesting that happens inside your brain when you ask yourself a question: your brain has to answer. Try it now, ask yourself “what is the color of the outside of the building I live in?” and say it out loud. Your brain has a need to answer you when you ask it a question.

Ever since we were kids, we were taught that talking to ourselves makes us crazy. Studies show today that it is very healthy and helpful to talk to ourselves. As children we repeated things to ourselves to learn, and as adults we repeat things to ourselves to remember them.

What if talking to yourself and asking yourself questions could unlock who you are and ultimately save your life?

I think we are all a little lost. Even the people who “have it all together” are lost. It’s not a bad thing to be lost though. There is great humility in admitting you are lost. When you admit you do not know everything you open the door to infinite learning possibilities.

We are all searching for something in life. We search for love, the best workout tips, the best business hacks, the best recipes, the latest how-to’s, and most times we search for ourselves. Everyone is looking for something at all times, and if you break down why you are searching, the answers may baffle you.

There is a specific way to talk to yourself that could do you so much good.

There is a very common and well-known way to talk to ourselves that most people chalk up to ‘something only teenage girls do’. There is a reason that teenage girls do it, psychologists recommend it, and a lot of people are afraid to do it: it unlocks things inside of you. There are times we don’t want to face ourselves and we are afraid to look into the mirror, this will help you do exactly that.

I’m sure you are very curious now what I am referring to. I am talking about journaling. Yes, get a diary. This is a way that you can talk to yourself and find all of the answers you need within yourself. 

There is a specific way of journaling too, it consists of 4 things: I want. I feel. I need. Gratitude. These four things, when put in a journal daily, can help you to unlock things about yourself that you may be afraid to face. Facing yourself will ultimately help you overcome any issue you have going on.

“Journal writing is a voyage to the interior.” – Christina Baldwin

I want

Journaling daily about the things that you want can help you to focus on the positives in your life. You are able to be open with yourself and confront the things in your life that you are craving and may be lacking. If you don’t know what you want, just ask yourself “What do I want?”

I feel

Sometimes it is hard to be honest about the things we are feeling. Today’s society is still very big on the ‘suck it up’ sort of mentality. Yes, it is important to be strong and move on, however it is just as important to be open about the things you are struggling with emotionally. You are talking to yourself so no need to worry about judgment.

I need

We seem to forget the things we need in our lives when we focus on what we don’t need. Don’t focus on the things you don’t need surrounding you, focus on what your life is lacking. When you focus on what you are lacking you are able to begin looking on how to fill those voids in a healthy way.

“The act of writing is the act of discovering what you believe.” – David Hare

Gratitude

It is important to be grateful daily. Especially to find ways to be grateful for the difficult things in your life. For example: I am grateful that I was stuck in traffic today for 2 hours. It means that there is that many people who have jobs and can provide for their families. It also gave me a chance to finish my audio book today. Find ways to be grateful for the things that are hard to be grateful for and it can change your life.

Any barrier you may have in your life, no matter how tough it may be, you have the power to overcome it. No matter how hard it may seem, facing yourself and talking yourself through it can help you to unlock hidden potential you didn’t know you had so journal daily.

Do you journal? If so, how has it helped your life improve? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

Image courtesy of Twenty20.com