Walking down the street, cooking at home, driving… There are many situations in which a person finds themselves alone and she may catch herself talking to herself. Sometimes it can simply be a comment about the weather, how late you are getting somewhere, or that task you just forgot. But it can also be a authentic conversation.

A attitude which at first glance could be considered simply a eccentricity or a rarity, but which in reality is much more complex than it seems and can be a powerful tool for mental well-being and self-management if you know how to use it well.

In fact, modern psychology tells us that talking to ourselves is not only completely normalbut you can have many benefits. Keep reading and discover why do we talk alone aloud, how it influences in our minds and the limits that we must have clear to keep this habit always healthy.

the internal dialogue

To begin with, it is curious that there is a belief that talking to yourself is an unusual behavior when we all know that our mind It is always full of thoughts, ideas and reflectionsand that there are people who do not stop thinking about things.

These thoughts, ideas and reflections usually pass in silence but, sometimes, they come out and are said out loud. That internal dialogue that we all carry inside is very important for mental functioning, but when we express it out loud it becomes even more relevance.

Hélène Loevenbruck, researcher at the Laboratory of Psychology and Neurocognition at the University of Grenoble, explains that our mind is full of “verbal material”, an internal resource that goes far beyond simple thoughts. This “material” is fundamental for our self-awareness and for managing our emotions.and speaking out loud allows us to activate this resource in a conscious and constructive way.

Loevenbruck maintains that different senses and forms of processing intervene in this verbalized dialogue. When we transform a thought into a phrase said out loud, we achieve a deeper understanding of our ideas. We process them in a more tangible way, because we are using several senses to do so, and in this way decision making is facilitated, for example.

In situations where we are nervous, confused or even when we need a push to motivate ourselves, This act reminds us that we are not alone: ​​our mind is working with us.offering us the words we need to move forward.

Benefits of speaking out loud to yourself

As much as it may seem like an eccentric or curious habit, speaking out loud has many benefits for our mind and our emotional well-being. This simple act of verbalizing thoughts helps us put our mind in orderto better understand our emotions and gain control in times of difficulty.

According to psychology, these are some of its main functions and benefits:

facilitates organization and increases concentration

When we speak out loud, we transform our ideas into concrete words and this process can be extremely helpful in organizing our minds. When verbalizing, we distance ourselves from abstract thoughts and turn them into something tangiblewhich makes it easier to focus on what is important and structure ideas in a more orderly way.

This is especially useful in tasks that require concentration, or in complex situations. Under these circumstances, talking to ourselves out loud can help us gain mental claritybetter visualize the steps to follow and avoid mental overload.

increases motivation

It is proven that a positive internal dialogue increases motivation. Telling yourself «you can do it» when you are exercising, for example, is a push to not give up. Studies have shown that listening to motivational words, even if they come from yourself, strengthen your will and help you move forward.

Strengthens memory and self-awareness

One of the lesser-known benefits of speaking out loud is the ability of this act to strengthen memory. By listening to our own words, we give auditory reinforcement to our thoughts, which makes it easier to store information in long-term memory. Once again, involving a greater number of senses in the process improves cognitive abilities.

This effect is very useful for many everyday situations, from remembering a to-do list to learning new concepts or studying.

Furthermore, by verbalizing our reflections, we connect more directly with our self-awareness. The simple act of listening to ourselves makes us more aware of what we think and feel at all times.

Helps manage emotions

Speaking out loud also plays a crucial role in managing our emotions. External dialogue with ourselves allows us to express, validate and process emotions in moments of tension or anxiety.

When we put into words what we feel, we achieve greater control over our reactions and prevent negative emotions from accumulating or dominating us. To a large extent, This is why we are relieved to talk to someone else. when we are more, even if she does not know how to advise us or can do nothing but listen to us.

We can also use this external speech to reinforce our motivation and self-confidence, telling ourselves things like “I can do it” or “I just have to take it one step at a time.” This calms anxiety and brings us back to the present in moments of stress or insecurity.. In addition, it improves self-compassion and promotes positive internal dialogue, which are great allies in times of difficulty.

When talking loudly becomes harmful

Although speaking out loud has many benefits, can also have counterproductive effects if it becomes an excessive habit. When it overflows, it stops being a tool for emotional regulation and becomes part of the spiral of rumination.

We call mental rumination that process in which we repeat the same ideas or concerns obsessively and, in many cases, unconsciously. This type of repetitive internal dialogue can lead to an increase in stress and anxiety, since it keeps us trapped in negative thoughts without finding any solution.

The researcher cited in this article, Hélène Loevenbruck, warns that, although internal language is valuable, we must be very careful with its use. When this dialogue becomes negative and ruminatingwe end up emotionally and psychologically exhausted, which hinders our ability to solve problems and lead a fulfilling life.

That is why it is important to learn to identify when this loud dialogue is contributing to calm and when, on the other hand, it is increasing discomfort, to stop it completely. In this last case, go for a walk, do some moderate physical exercise or dedicating time to an activity that attracts our full attention can help us put an end to mental rumination.