今天是小芳老师陪你精读外刊的第161天
泛读原文（盲听1遍，泛读1遍，对照文本听1遍）
When it comes to first impressions, we all want to make a good one. And that’s why we tend to focus on our best traits and qualities. However, we often fall into the trap of thinking that everything about us needs to be perfect. But that’s just unrealistic. We all have imperfections. It’s part of being human. And while it’s easy to believe that our ‘supposed flaws and imperfections’ make us less attractive, here are some that can actually make us seem more appealing to others:
As your morning alarm blares, you mutter to yourself, “Why did I set it so early?” While brushing your teeth, you think, “I need a haircut... unless?” Rushing out the front door, you reach for your keys and realize they’re not there. Frustrated you shout, “I can’t do anything right!” just in time to notice your neighbor.
Being caught talking to yourself can feel embarrassing, and some people even stigmatize this behavior as a sign of mental instability. But decades of psychology research show that talking to yourself is completely normal. In fact, most, if not all, of us engage in some form of self-talk every single day. So why do we talk to ourselves? And does what we say matter?
Self-talk refers to the narration inside your head, sometimes called inner speech. It differs from mental imagery or recalling facts and figures. Specifically, psychologists define self-talk as verbalized thoughts directed toward yourself or some facet of your life. This includes personal conversations like “I need to work on my free throw.” But it also includes reflections you have throughout the day, like “The gym is crowded tonight. I’ll come back tomorrow.” And while most self-talk in adults tends to be silent, speaking to yourself out loud also falls into this category.
In fact, psychologists believe our first experiences with self-talk are mostly vocal, as children often speak to themselves out loud as they play. In the 1930s, Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky hypothesized that this kind of speech was actually key to development. By repeating conversations they’ve had with adults, children practice managing their behaviors and emotions on their own. Then, as they grow older, this outward self-talk tends to become internalized, morphing into a private inner dialogue.
We know this internal self-talk is important, and can help you plan, work through difficult situations, and even motivate you throughout the day. But studying self-talk can be difficult. It relies on study subjects clearly tracking a behavior that’s spontaneous and often done without conscious control. For this reason, scientists are still working to answer basic questions, like, why do some people self-talk more than others? What areas of the brain are activated during self-talk? And how does this activation differ from normal conversation? One thing we know for certain, however, is that what you say in these conversations can have real impacts on your attitude and performance.
Engaging in self-talk that’s instructional or motivational has been shown to increase focus, boost self-esteem, and help tackle everyday tasks. For example, one study of collegiate tennis players found that incorporating instructional self-talk into practice increased their concentration and accuracy.
And just as chatting to a friend can help decrease stress, speaking directly to yourself may also help you regulate your emotions. Distanced self-talk is when you talk to yourself, as if in conversation with another person. So, rather than “I’m going to crush this exam,” you might think, “Caleb, you are prepared for this test!” One study found that this kind of self-talk was especially beneficial for reducing stress when engaging in anxiety-inducing tasks, such as meeting new people or public speaking.
But where positive self-talk can help you, negative self-talk can harm you. Most people are critical of themselves occasionally, but when this behavior gets too frequent or excessively negative, it can become toxic. High levels of negative self-talk are often predictive of anxiety in children and adults. And those who constantly blame themselves for their problems and ruminate on those situations typically experience more intense feelings of depression.
Today, there’s a field of psychological treatment called cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, which is partially focused on regulating the tone of self-talk. Cognitive behavioral therapists often teach strategies to identify cycles of negative thoughts and replace them with neutral or more compassionate reflections. Over time, these tools can improve one’s mental health.
So the next time you find yourself chatting with yourself, remember to be kind. That inner voice is a partner you’ll be talking to for many years to come.
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单词
Self-talk（自言自语）- The narration or verbalized thoughts directed toward oneself or some facet of ones life. Example sentence: I often engage in self-talk to motivate myself before a big presentation.
Inner speech（内部言语）- The narration or thoughts that occur inside ones head. Example sentence: Inner speech helps me process my thoughts and make decisions.
Instructional（指导性的）- Providing guidance or direction. Example sentence: I use instructional self-talk to remind myself of the steps needed to complete a task.
Motivational（激励性的）- Inspiring or encouraging action or effort. Example sentence: I use motivational self-talk to boost my confidence before a challenging situation.
Regulate（调节）- To control or manage. Example sentence: Engaging in deep breathing exercises helps me regulate my emotions.
Toxic（有毒的）- Harmful or damaging. Example sentence: Constant negative self-talk can have toxic effects on ones mental well-being.
Cognitive behavioral therapy（认知行为疗法）- A psychological treatment approach that focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns. Example sentence: Cognitive behavioral therapy helped me challenge and modify my negative self-talk.
Cycles（循环）- Patterns or sequences that repeat. Example sentence: Negative thought cycles can be difficult to break without intervention.
Compassionate（有同情心的）- Showing empathy, understanding, and kindness. Example sentence: Its important to have a compassionate inner dialogue to promote self-acceptance.
Mental health（心理健康）- The state of emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Example sentence: Taking care of ones mental health involves cultivating positive self-talk and seeking support when needed.
阅读理解
What is self-talk?
a) Mental imagery
b) Recalling facts and figures
c) Verbalized thoughts directed toward oneself
d) Conversations with others
How does self-talk impact performance?
a) It has no effect on focus or self-esteem.
b) It can increase concentration and accuracy.
c) It only helps with anxiety-inducing tasks.
d) It negatively affects attitude and performance.
What is a potential negative consequence of high levels of negative self-talk?
a) Increased motivation and productivity
b) Improved mental health and well-being
c) Predictive of anxiety and intense feelings of depression
d) Enhanced ability to regulate emotions
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答案
CBC
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