self-talk

noun

ˌself-ˈtȯk 

: talk or thoughts directed at oneself

As we push through the pain during a race, it's natural to talk to ourselves. It's also natural to have an unpleasant conversation. Studies show that both negative and positive self-talk influence performance—you can guess which works best.

—Bicycling

… let's say a student said, "I'm having trouble learning these new techniques." The first thing I would do is probe into his self-talk. He's probably thinking, "I shouldn't be having so much trouble."

—Thomas J. Nardi

Neil Fiore, a motivational speaker … says the road to timely tax filing can be reached with a little positive self-talk.

—Kris Frieswick

Examples of self-talk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Internal negative self-talk can often be louder and more accessible than positive affirmations. —Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2024

Predictive processing offers a new way of understanding the science of self-talk. —Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 26 June 2024

How many were there? ▸ 7 min — with Rutger Bregman The Well How to stop toxic self-talk, explained in 6 minutes If your inner voice is cruel, try these steps to reclaim your mind. —Big Think, 24 June 2024

High-achieving professionals may cope by procrastinating or engaging in negative self-talk. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 21 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1737, in the meaning defined above