Photo credits to bolegainda.com
Soliloquy is a term used when one is having a conversation with himself or herself out loud. The question here though is; can soliloquizing be an indefinite sign of insanity?
Well, according to psychologist, Dr. Linda Sapadin; talking to yourself is not a symptom of insanity but rather a stress-reliever that can help you not only take load off your mind but can also make you smarter.
Yes, folks! You read it right, TALKING TO YOURSELF MAKES YOU SMARTER. It actually improves your cognitive skills and also helps lighten emotional load (only if you talk to yourself right). Let me justify these claims below…
Improve cognitive skills. First off, as we all remember from our psychology classes, that the cognitive processes of our brains include; memory, perception and thinking. A research study conducted by Gary Lupyan and Daniel Swingley, after going through multiple experiments (conveyed in different locations and situations) resulted to the conclusion that when people talk to themselves while looking for something they need or might have misplaced find it evidently quicker than of those who don’t.
Lighten emotional load. According to Dr. Linda Sapadin, soliloquizing relieves lonliness and boost self-confidence. Speaking to oneself helps one clarify their thoughts, tend to know what’s important and firm up any decisions they’re contemplating.
Here are four types of self-talk Dr. Sapadin claims that will make you smarter and feel better about yourself:
- Complimentary. Never ever deny yourself the little compliments you deserve. Even for the littlest things you have done, always give yourself a pat on the back. A simple “you did good today” or “that was an excellent thing you did earlier” will always count. Don’t wait for other people’s compliments, they often times seem to see things a teeny-bit foggy and sometimes their attention might not be fully pointed to you. So, never hesitate to give yourself that five star stamp for a job well done.
- Motivational. Not sure you want to get up and head out to school or to work? Motivating yourself with a kinder and more soft spoken way can give you a better drive on things. Remember the times when your friends or certain members of the family talk you up and motivate you to do something? Don’t they often times mistake the situation and pep-talk you on out-of-context things? Always motivate yourself because no one else knows you better than you, right?
- Outer dialogue. Having trouble with making a decision? Should you stay or should you go? Speak up or stay silent? Buy this gift or that gift? Choices aren’t easy. Indeed, because they’re so difficult, we often don’t really make a choice; we respond impulsively from habit or anxiety. It’s much more effective, however, to create a dialogue with yourself so that you can hear what you think.
- Goal-setting. Let’s say you’re trying to be better organized so the holidays are not so frenzied. Setting a goal and making a plan (i.e. what to do, when to do it, how to do it) can be a big help. Sure, you can just make a list, but saying it out loud focuses your attention, reinforces the message, controls your runaway emotions and screens out distractions. Top athletes do this all the time by telling themselves to “keep your head down. Keep your eye on the ball. Breathe.” It works well for them, why not for you.
Contented? So next time you seem to have lost something or need a little kick in the butt, never stop yourself from mumbling about on your own. Talk! It’ll make you a whole lot wiser and focused. 🙂
Sources:
psychcentral.com
gizmodo.com
Reich Wonders 