Q. What in the world is “self-talk”? I was always told that talking to my self was a symptom of mental illness and answering yourself could get you locked up somewhere.

A. Oh my! All human beings talk to themselves. Self-talk is a label for what you tell yourself. Many people talk to themselves in unhelpful ways, however, speaking negatively instead of positively. It’s important to learn to listen in on your own conversations and develop a communication style that helps program your brain for success. Just sit quietly for a minute, perhaps close your eyes, and listen up. Pay attention and you’ll quickly pick up on your self-talk. You may want to read the article: “Talk to Myself? In a Pig’s Eye!”