When the inner voice morphs into chatter, it syncs us in three domains of life that we care a lot about and really make life worth living. Chatter consumes our attention to the point where we have very little left over to focus on other things. Simone Biles dropped out because of what she called the Twisties - another name for chatter. And so that's what chatter can do to us when it comes to our individual performance. We also know that chatter can undo our habits.
For Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re revisiting some of our favorite conversations with scientists about how to live healthier, happier lives.
Psychology professor Ethan Kross is an expert on the science of introspection and the role our inner voice plays in shaping our decisions and sense of well-being. While our inner voice has a lot of benefits, it can sometimes turn negative and lead to what Ethan calls “mental chatter.” In this episode, we discuss science-based strategies for how to rein in our mental chatter, including an exercise in mental time travel.
Our new season starts June 5. In the meantime, connect with Maya on instagram @DrMayaShanker.
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