The Way You Talk To Yourself Matters
November 2025
The way you talk to yourself matters — much more than you probably realise. Neuroscience shows that your inner dialogue has the power to literally rewire your brain, influencing your motivation, focus, and even how you make decisions every day.
Negative Self-Talk Drains Your Health
Every negative thought triggers your body’s stress response, releasing cortisol. When this keeps happening, it starts to affect your memory, your immune system, and even speeds up the ageing process. Over time, constant negativity trains your brain to expect threats — leaving you anxious, tired, and stuck in fight-or-flight mode.
91% of fears never come true
A 2016 study found that 91% of fears reported by people with anxiety never actually happened. But your brain can’t tell the difference between imagination and reality. When you think something bad might happen, your body reacts as if it’s real — your stress hormones spike, your muscles tense, and your heart rate rises.
The amygdala, the brain’s fear centre, becomes more reactive. The pre-frontal cortex, which helps with reasoning and logic, struggles to keep up. Your sleep gets worse, your digestion slows down, and your pain and fatigue increases.
Do you ever feel tired but wired? Your body is exhausted but your brain won’t shut off? This happens when your brain gets stuck in a negative feedback loop.
Your Words Rewire Your Brain
Research shows that both positive and negative self-talk can reshape how your brain functions. Self-criticism might give you a short burst of focus, but self-respect creates lasting emotional balance and resilience. The way you speak to yourself doesn’t just change your mindset — it changes your brain.
Try Reframing Your Thoughts
Neuroplasticity is your brain’s ability to form new connections and adjust old ones. That means it can change. The good news is that we can replace negative thoughts with more positive ones. Which is why the way you talk to yourself matters.
You can train your brain to think differently. Start small:
“I can’t afford it” → “I’ll be able to afford it soon.”
“I don’t know how to do this” → “I’m learning how to do this.”
“I’m scared I’m not doing a good job” → “I’m doing my best, and that’s enough.”
Over time, these small shifts change how you see yourself — and how your brain responds to challenges and stress.
Simple Ways to Shift Your Mindset
Affirmations — Repeat truths that remind you of your strength and worth.
Meditation — Quiet your mind and reconnect with yourself.
Journaling — Write it out. It helps bring clarity and perspective.
Walks in nature — Let your nervous system reset. Fresh air works wonders.
Support — Talk to people you trust or seek professional help when needed.
We’re taught to be kind to others, but it’s just as important to be kind to ourselves. Speak to yourself with the same care and respect you’d give someone you love. The way you talk to yourself shapes how you think, how you feel — and ultimately, who you become.
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