75 - Friday Fix: Why You Should Talk to Yourself in Third Person
May 21, 2021
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NBA all-star Lebron James showcases benefits of talking to oneself in third person. Research suggests it enhances mental strength, emotional regulation, and decision-making skills. Learn why adapting this mindset might lead to a happier and more mindful life.
Talking to yourself in the third person can enhance decision-making processes by gaining psychological distance and balancing logic and emotion.
Using third person language in self-talk helps regulate emotions, improve self-control, and lead to better decision outcomes in various situations.
Deep dives
Using Third-Person Self-Talk for Better Decision-Making
Talking to oneself in the third person can be a powerful method to enhance decision-making processes. By gaining psychological distance through referring to oneself in the third person, individuals can better balance logic and emotion. Research has shown that this distanced self-talk helps regulate emotions, improve self-control, and lead to better decision outcomes. For example, when individuals perceive a problem as a challenge rather than a threat by using third person language, they experience less distress and can manage their thoughts, feelings, and behavior effectively.
Enhancing Performance and Coping Skills through Self-Talk
Self-talk methods, such as using one's name or pronouns, have been proven to boost performance and aid in coping with various situations. Referring to oneself in the third person or using pronouns can help individuals achieve their goals, resist temptations, and improve decision-making. Studies have shown that distant self-talk can assist in making better food choices, enhancing athletic performance, and managing anxiety. By simply adjusting the way individuals speak to themselves internally, they can experience improvements in performance and emotional regulation without any additional costs or specialized equipment.
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Exploring the Power of Speaking in the Third Person for Mental Strength
The way you think affects how you feel and it affects how you behave.
One slight change to the way you think might make a huge difference in your life.
If you’re like most people, you might think in the first-person. You tell yourself, “I have to go to the store,” or “I am going to mess up.”
But you may want to start using third person when you think—call yourself by your name or use your pronouns.
It’s something that NBA all-star Lebron James has demonstrated. And researchers think he’s onto something.
In today’s Friday Fix, I share why you might want to start talking to yourself in the third person and how it can help you make better decisions in your life.