self-talk

   This was the concept that interested me the most. I often engage in self-talk to help me sort out a problem. The book mentions that our self-talk is not only a reaction to something that is occuring, but it will also determine how things turn out. We often talk ourselves out of or into something. The book explains that we must avoid self-talk that may turn into a self fulfilling prophecy. This is when a person keeps telling themselves something like they are not going to get a job no matter what. If a few years later, they are still unemployed this may be a self-fulfilling prophecy that has come true. The book says that we must monitor our self-talk so that we control it and not the other way around.

   Monitoring our self-talk can help us control our emotions. We often engage in self-talk that can leave us in ruts. Knowing how to monitor this type of negative self-talk is important in helping us deal with a crisis the right way. We must learn how to keep ourselves from getting too down about a problem going on in our lives.