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Is it normal to talk to yourself?

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Build Character

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Being caught talking to yourself can feel embarrassing, and some people even stigmatize this behavior as a sign of mental instability. But decades of research show that talking to yourself is completely normal; most if not all of us engage in some form of self-talk every day. So why do we talk to ourselves? And does what we say matter? Dig into the psychological benefits of positive self-talk.

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Additional Resources for you to Explore

Interested in how scientists study self-talk and its effect on the brain? Read this article by psychologist Charles Fernyhough. To learn more about how distancing yourself in your self-talk can be beneficial, explore this article from Advances in Experimental Social Psychology or this tip article from Character Lab. Lastly, read this blog for advice on how to improve positive self-talk and how to stop toxic cycles of negative self-talk.

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About Build Character

Character refers to ways of thinking, acting, and feeling that benefit others as well as ourselves. Character is plural—encompassing strengths of heart, mind, and will. Like social and emotional learning, the elements that make up character can be taught, learned and practiced, and we’re here to help. Explore this page to strengthen your kindness, grit, decision making, curiosity, emotional intelligence and more - brought to you by TED-Ed and Character Lab.

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  • Lesson Plan created by TED Ed

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