OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia

When you say nice things to yourself, it actually changes your brain! Scientists have studied this with special brain scans. Positive self-talk makes the parts of your brain that help you learn and solve problems work better.

Athletes know this trick too. Basketball players, gymnasts, and runners talk to themselves before big games. They say things like “I can do this” or “I have practiced hard.” This helps them stay calm and perform their best.

You can try it too. When something is hard, tell yourself “I am still learning” or “Mistakes help me grow.” Your brain listens to what you say to it!

• Your inner voice speaks about 4,000 words per minute, which is almost 27 times faster than talking out loud.
• Dr. Kristin Neff started studying self-compassion in 2003 and found that people who are kind to themselves handle hard times better.
• Many Olympic athletes use positive self-talk before they compete to help their brains stay focused.