self-talk
Mental voice narration
Self-talk is the internal monologue or silent conversation you have with yourself.
It can be deliberate—I told myself to calm down—or automatic, the running commentary that accompanies daily life.
Psychologists distinguish between positive self-talk, which encourages and motivates, and negative self-talk, which criticizes and undermines.
Her self-talk before the interview was brutal.
Positive self-directed statements
- encouragementSupport spurring continued effort
- positivityHopeful mental orientation
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- confidenceSelf-assurance or trust
mantras · inspiration · determination · resilience · optimism · reassurance · reframing · goal-setting
Silent conversation with oneself
- inner monologueUnspoken personal narration
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- inner voiceUnspoken mental dialogue
- metacognitionAwareness of own reasoning
journaling · soliloquy · stream of consciousness · thinking aloud · processing
Harsh internal self-judgment
- negativeOpposite of affirmative
- harshUnpleasantly severe or rough
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
- perfectionismCompulsive pursuit of flawlessness
shame · guilt · insecurity · inadequacy · faultfinding · catastrophizing · worry · anxiety
Focused attention practice
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- presenceState of being somewhere
- mantraRepeated focus phrase
- breathingPulmonary gas exchange
centering · grounding · stillness · non-judgment · acceptance · letting go · equanimity · calm
affirmations
Positive self-directed statements
- encouragementSupport spurring continued effort
- positivityHopeful mental orientation
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
confidence · mantras · inspiration · determination · resilience · optimism · reassurance · reframing · goal-setting · perseverance
inner dialogue
Silent conversation with oneself
- inner monologueUnspoken personal narration
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- inner voiceUnspoken mental dialogue
metacognition · journaling · soliloquy · stream of consciousness · thinking aloud · processing
inner critic
Harsh internal self-judgment
- negativeOpposite of affirmative
- harshUnpleasantly severe or rough
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
perfectionism · shame · guilt · insecurity · inadequacy · faultfinding · catastrophizing · worry · anxiety · overthinking
meditation
Focused attention practice
breathing · centering · grounding · stillness · non-judgment · acceptance · letting go · equanimity · calm · detachment
- inner dialogueinner voice, inner dialogue, inner monologue, mental chatter, subvocalization
- mental chatterworry, rumination, overthinking, inner critic, racing thoughts
- mental processesthinking, think, reasoning, cognition, pondering
- encouragementencourage, encouraging, praises, hang in there, supports
- inner lifeidentity, feelings, memory, thoughts, private thoughts
- inner thoughtsinner monologue, inner voice, internal dialogue, thoughts, thinking
self-talkconversation
Exchange of spoken ideas
dialogue · communication · public speaking · public speech · vocalization
talk, self, talks, talking, talkative, talker, talked, talkers, talkativeness