Self Talk

[Bowser]

The internal chatter seems irresistible, even if it is just labeling and commenting. I think I have seen it in its extremes, where people are talking to themselves out loud. Perhaps the problem arises when we identify with our internal voice rather than only observing it.

In your opinion, is self talk a negative aspect of human evolution, or does it serve a purpose?

 

[Xelasnave.1947]

Self talk works for me.

I tell myself I am not forgetful and I remember.

I tell myself I will win and I win.

I look in the mirror and say my hair is getting blacker and at 71 it is blacker☺ pity I did not include my beard.

To lose weight I look and say "hey you are losing weight" ...At first its a lie but soon I lose weight.

I have not used it to instill negative behaviour but I think it could work that way also.

When I raced I would tell myself and see myself leading the race thru the first corner and that is how it went.

How self talk has played a roll for others I do not know.
Alex

 

[Bowser]

How self talk has played a roll for others I do not know.

I tend to label objects. If I see a car, I think "car." It's totally unnecessary, yet it's compulsive. Often I'm playing music, just a song that comes to mind.

It's good your self talk is positive, X. One night at work I was outside having a smoke (maybe 2 am in the morning), and there was a guy shaking his fist at the sky, screaming how angry he was at life. maybe he was having a bad day? Maybe his self talk had turned on him? I don't know.

 

[Xelasnave.1947]

I tend to label objects. If I see a car, I think "car."

Most interesting.

This suggests a certain uncertainty with an under current of simple qualification to affirm initial observation, indicative of a need to confirm observation with stored data or memory.

You seem to seek assurance that what you see is real by your qualification or naming it. If this qualification is somewhat normal and repetative it may reflect a general uncertainty of what is real...do you name things to confirm for yourself they are real for example.
Perhaps questioning things you consider spiritual has boiled over to a heneral questioning of all incoming data.


Perhaps guide this self talk to manage emotion rather than an un necessary affirmation of alteady identified objects such that rather than relabling a car you say perhaps I want that car or I will have a car like that or I will own a better car...now that is only a step to change self talk from qualification to emotion management but effecting such a change will not be simple or immediate...
Alex

 

[Bowser]

do you name things to confirm for yourself they are real for example.

I think it is common for most. It's probably more evolutionary. We learn at an early age to tag and label objects in life: Car, Red Car, Fast Car, Really Nice Car.

If we could look at the world without applying labels, what would we see?

 

[Xelasnave.1947]

I think it is common for most.

We think what we do is common for most...perhaps this is not a good way to determine what is common.

If we could look at the world without applying labels, what would we see?

A great deal more I suspect.
Alex

 

[geordief]

Self talk is perhaps analagous to writing in our culture .It allows us to leave records of events that might otherwise be a blur.

The mind does this without words anyway but self talk allows up to bring in the syntax/vocabulary heavy artillery.

 

[Bowser]

We think what we do is common for most...perhaps this is not a good way to determine what is common.

You have no labels for what you see and experience, X?

 

[Bowser]

Self talk is perhaps analagous to writing in our culture .It allows us to leave records of events that might otherwise be a blur.

So, it somehow serves as a bookmark in memory?

 

[geordief]

So, it somehow serves as a bookmark in memory?

I guess . Our brain has to do this anyway ;internal language is a consequence (once we have the language we use it as a reflex)

No expert ,just riffing.

 

[sweetpea]

I tend to label objects. If I see a car, I think "car." It's totally unnecessary, yet it's compulsive.

You have no labels for what you see and experience, X?

I call a car a car, but I don't have to tell myself it's a car every time I see one. I probably assess it for any threat to me, like is it in my path or am I in its path.

 

[Bowser]

I call a car a car, but I don't have to tell myself it's a car every time I see one. I probably assess it for any threat to me, like is it in my path or am I in its path.

It's not the exact monologue each and every time, yet the point is life evokes a commentary. Would you agree?

 

[sideshowbob]

If we could look at the world without applying labels, what would we see?

How do you explain a rainbow to a blind man? Even when we have labels that are clear to us, somebody else's perception might be different.

Words are a convenience in communicating with other people but, as you say, they may be a hindrance in our own perception and understanding.

 

[sweetpea]

It's not the exact monologue each and every time, yet the point is life evokes a commentary.

The old shifting goal posts.

 

[kx000]

I believe in telepathy and all lovers do it when they kiss.

 

[Bowser]

The old shifting goal posts.

There's no goal posts in this thread, no right or wrong answer. Do you experience Self-Talk? If so, is it a good thing or a bad thing?

 

[Bowser]

How do you explain a rainbow to a blind man?

Perhaps a visual explanation is useless, but he might smell the moisture in the air and feel the sun on his face.

Words are a convenience in communicating with other people but, as you say, they may be a hindrance in our own perception and understanding.

I don't know. For some self-talk might be a source of affirmation. If I'm looking at a beautiful sunrise, is it really necessary to tell myself the same?

 

[sideshowbob]

Perhaps a visual explanation is useless, but he might smell the moisture in the air and feel the sun on his face.

I was walking to work one day and playing some heavy metal on my Walkman. A car waited for me to cross in front of it and when it moved, I heard it's fan belt squeak. Then I asked myself, "How could I hear the squeak over my loud music?" It was only then that I realized I actually smelled burning rubber.

So yes, our senses do overlap more than we often realize.

For some self-talk might be a source of affirmation. If I'm looking at a beautiful sunrise, is it really necessary to tell myself the same?

Sometimes we have to remind ourselves to notice.

 

[Bowser]

A sample of my Self-Talk this morning. I'm expecting a package today. Unfortunately we have a mail thief in the neighborhood, so I'm a bit concerned. Yeah, they are just USB cables; nonetheless, I've been waiting for several days. Anyway, when I checked the mailbox this morning a song was playing...in my head.

 

[RainbowSingularity]

The internal chatter seems irresistible, even if it is just labeling and commenting. I think I have seen it in its extremes, where people are talking to themselves out loud. Perhaps the problem arises when we identify with our internal voice rather than only observing it.

In your opinion, is self talk a negative aspect of human evolution, or does it serve a purpose?

i think the subject is vastly more complex than most conceptualise by its name "self talk" and simply wont disucss the subject in public.
i shall read keenly though as i find the subject very interesting and highly relivent to mostly all 1st world intellects.