Self-Talk, Know Yourself!

We usually think of communication happening between two people, but it's also important to communicate with yourself, in other words, "self-talk." Self-talk can be negative or positive. Confusion about life may bring up deep worry or insecurity. It's easy to fall into a slump. Challenge that and do an internal brainstorm. Ask yourself, "What do I really want?" "What do I feel about this?" "What do I already know that I can use in this situation?" "What are my resources?"

It's OK to talk to yourself in times of confusion, because you do have many resources that you can call upon. (Be sure to be a good listener!) If you can use self-talk to sort things out, you will speak more clearly to another person. You can also use a journal to "dialogue with yourself" in writing. It's important to be specific and personal (using "I" statements) whether you are speaking to yourself or to another. You have to find the common system that will allow you to communicate well with another person, and you'll have a good start when you sort things out first.