What to Say When You Talk to Your Self By Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D.

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What to Say When You Talk to Your Self By Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D.

… Introduction 

Dr. Helmstetter begins by addressing a fundamental concept: we all talk to ourselves, either silently or out loud. This internal conversation influences our behavior, our self-image, and ultimately our success or failure. He emphasizes that most of this self-talk is negative, habitual, and learned—not something we were born with.

Helmstetter explains that much of this internal programming was unintentionally “installed” by others—parents, teachers, peers, and media—through repeated negative phrases like “You can’t do that,” or “You’re not good enough.” These messages form a mental script that dictates how we think and act.

The introduction lays the foundation for the core message of the book: you can change your self-talk and, by doing so, reprogram your mind. This process can improve self-esteem, performance, and overall life satisfaction. The rest of the book builds on this idea, offering methods to recognize, stop, and replace negative self-talk with positive, constructive language.