Positive psychology has a popular tool for self-empowerment: spoken self-affirmation. Self-talk increases one’s involvement in the process and contributes to one’s emotional regulation and motivation.

Popular books on the law of attraction and the power of the subconscious mind highlight the fact that speaking aloud is a direct way of attracting something from the universe, whether it is favourable to us or not.

The problem stems from the fact that self-talk is considered a kindergarten version of inner-speech, which is the silent voice in our heads.

Adults normally internalize their self-talk and leave the talking aloud to children, people with mental health issues, and when in private settings.

• Talking out aloud opens up the words, providing full thought retrieval, and using rhythm and intonation to bring out the main idea while increasing the dialogical abilities of our own speech.
• Mute inner speech, on the other hand encourages short-hand language and mental shortcuts, cutting out any creative insight or useful thought.
• The body thinks better when one is walking, pacing around the office or in the park, and saying it aloud is part of this thinking process.

Activities like writing, playing a musical instrument or dancing are not starting from the brain and then emitting from the body, but take the entire body-mind as a whole, integrated system, with each part influencing and complementing the other.