Positive self-talk is an internal dialogue that makes a person feel good about themselves. A person can use positive self-talk to think optimistically and feel motivated. Identifying negative ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Lucy Paulise is executive coach and author of Timebox, based in Texas. How do you say no—or let go—when your inner critic won’t ...

Everybody has those inner gremlins talking to them, bringing up the worst thoughts, second-guessing their instincts and being generally unkind. Where exactly do those critical voices come from? And ...

Your mind can be both your fiercest ally and your toughest opponent. Research uncovers what negative self-talk might really be doing for you, and how to work with it. Have you ever noticed a voice in ...

Many of us use self-talk to inspire and improve ourselves. Yet the typically harsh, punishing approach often backfires (for example, Loser!). Research has repeatedly linked self-criticism to various ...

In J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, Gandalf, after talking to himself aloud in the presence of others, defends the practice as, “a habit of the old,” to speak to the wisest person available.