66. Who’s Talking in There? The Science (and Practice) of Your Inner Voice

Ever catch yourself mid-lift arguing with… yourself?
 In this episode, Jess digs into the surprisingly powerful science of self-talk — why that inner voice exists, how it shapes your confidence and body image, and three evidence-backed ways to train it so it helps instead of hijacks you.

You’ll learn:

• What self-regulation actually means (and why it matters under the bar and in daily life)
• Why talking to yourself in the second person (“You’ve got this”) changes your stress response
• How to use self-compassion without slipping into toxic positivity
• How your inner dialogue directly affects body image and self-trust
• Three sturdy tools you can practice this week to start shifting your tone

🧠 References

1. Kross, E. et al. (2014). Self-talk as a regulatory mechanism: How you address yourself matters. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
2. Neff, K. & Germer, C. (2019). The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook. Guilford Press.
3. Alderson-Day, B. & Fernyhough, C. (2020). Inner speech and self-regulation: Toward a model of dialogic thinking. Frontiers in Psychology.

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