We all have an inner voice, which can help us to plan in our heads and to figure things out, but we also use it to talk about ourselves. So, positive self-talk can impact on our resilience, concentration, confidence, self-image and performance. One area to focus on is energising self-talk, whereby self-talk can act as a call to action and removes apathy. A useful prompt is: “Don’t rush to I can’t”. Essentially, in order to enhance their resilience, it can be beneficial if pupils avoid using absolutes when they talk to themselves. Just talking to and about yourself in an upbeat manner can also increase motivation and stamina. Asking yourself questions such as “How am I going to do this?”, or “What are the different ways I can tackle this?”, our brains start to develop potential answers.

This can help us focus on solutions and looking forward, rather than dwelling on the problem itself, which can be an unhelpful approach. Using “You” talking to yourself in the second person (You can do this) is often more effective than talking in the first person (I can do this). I wonder whether this is due to the “You” sounding like the voice of another perhaps? Giving yourself instructions telling yourself what to do, or planning your next steps, can assist us in learning new tasks more quickly and even performing better when we are under pressure. Some research also suggests this approach helps our self-control and focus, as it helps us plan, prepare and focus on the things we can control. Give it a go!