If so, you’re definitely not alone. Research shows that 96 percent of adults talk to themselves on a regular basis. But most don’t know just what that conversation consists of.
Ask the average person what they’ve said to themselves in the past hour and the answer usually is “I have no idea.”
In truth, this seemingly simple lack of knowledge could be costing countless moments of happiness and joy. That’s because self-talk is one of the most powerful dialogues in which people engage.
Experts say that self-talk can define how we interpret life -- be it positive or negative. And knowing the difference is key to productive thinking.
So how can self-talk work in your favor?
The first step of positive self-talk is embracing a concept called mindfulness. Simply put, mindfulness is the conscious attempt to stay in the present moment.
With a routine mindfulness practice comes the ability to monitor regular thought patterns. This allows people to tune into that inner dialogue.
One of the most important parts of this process is understanding a mindfulness term called autopilot thinking. Knowing autopilot thoughts is key to developing a healthy inner dialogue.