Ep 5: Self-Talk – Best Friend or Harmful Foe? (Insights)

Yoga for the Stressed and Obsessed

Does your inner voice ever feel like it has way too much airtime?
Mine sure does. I’ll replay old conversations for weeks, plan out every possible comeback, and then analyze it all again on repeat. It can feel like a full-time job just keeping up with the chatter in my own head.

But here’s the thing: that inner monologue isn’t just background noise. The words you use—especially the quiet ones you speak to yourself—can either help you thrive or keep you stuck. In this episode, we explore how your inner monologue, self-talk, and mental chatter are actually shaping your brain chemistry, focus, confidence, and even your subconscious behavior.

You’ll learn:

• Why saying “I’m not stressed" might actually hurt rather than help you
• The mysterious reason you are seeing a lot of red cars driving lately
• Why "quiet your mind" shouldn't be the goal of mindfulness practice

If you’ve ever wondered whether your self-talk actually matters, the answer is a resounding yes. And the good news? Once you understand how it works, you can train your inner voice to work for you instead of against you.

Scientific References Mentioned:

• Negation mitigates rather than inverts the neural representations of adjectives: Zuanazzi et al. (2024)

• “Not” in the brain and behavior: Coopmans et al. (2024)

• The effects of positive or negative self-talk on the alteration of brain functional connectivity by performing cognitive tasks, Kim et al. (2021)

Keywords: mindfulness, yoga, meditation, holistic, mind, neuroplasticity

Please remember to move within your own range and skip or modify anything that doesn’t feel right in your body today. This podcast is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for medical advice or personalized instruction.

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