May 18, 2025
How to deal with the voice inside your head
A little while ago, I read a book called “Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It.”
I read the Japanese translation, but the original was written in English.
The book says that most people spend much of their waking time talking to themselves in their heads. It means, they do not live in the present moment during that self talk. What a pity.
I felt this was exactly what was happening to me. Maybe I’m a person who talks to oneself too much.
When I’m about to wake up in the morning, a flood of colorful thoughts and voices come and go randomly throughout my mind. They are so fast that I can barely catch up. They fill my head and make me exhausted. They are so overwhelming that even after I get up, I can’t stop thinking.
It actually scared me. But I had never told anyone, because I thought I might be somewhat insane and I didn’t want to confuse anyone.
That’s why I decided to borrow the book from the library. After reading it, I was deeply convinced and decided to keep working on reducing my harmful self-talk. There were some specific suggestions in that book, and I picked up some of them to try.
But after a while, I forgot all about it.
Today, by chance, I came across a TED Talk by Ethan Kross, the author of the book.With that video, I could review the key points in 15 minutes.
But I still feel there was something more in that book, something that really mattered to me and touched me, though I can’t exactly tell what it was now.
So, I’m going to borrow it again and read it over.
少し前に、「チャッター〜頭の中のひとりごと」という本を読みました。原著は英語で、私が読んだのは日本語訳です。多くの人は、一日の中のかなりの時間を、頭の中でひとりごとを言って過ごしている、つまり、その瞬間に生きてはいないというのです。なんと残念なことでしょう。
これを読んで、大いに思い当たる節がありました。私はおそらく特に「頭の中のひとりごと」が多い方だと思います。
朝に目が覚める寸前、目が眩むような鮮やかな考えや声がものすごい速さで飛び交い、それに圧倒され疲れて目が覚めて、それでもなお考えを止められないことがあるくらいです。
この現象が怖かったのですが、誰にも言いませんでした。たぶん私はちょっと狂ってるんだろうと思っていたし、相手を困らせたくなかったので。
それでこの本を図書館で借りて読みました。その時はとても納得して、有害なひとりごとを減らすために努力しようと思いました。本にはそのための具体的な提案がリストアップされていて、その中から自分ができそうなものを幾つか選びました。でも、しばらく経って、すっかり忘れていました。
今日、たまたま、著者のEthan KrossのTED Talkを見つけました。15分ほどの動画で本の重要な主張を復習できたのですが、やはり、本の中には私にとってもっと大事なこと、もっと琴線に触れることが書いてあった気がしてなりません。それが何だったか思い出せないけれど。
もう一度図書館で借りて読み直そうと思います。
A little while ago, I read a book called “Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It.” I read the Japanese translation, but the original was written in English.
The book says that most people spend much of their waking time talking to themselves in their heads.
It means, they do not live in the present moment during that self talk.
What a pity.
Maybe I’m a person who talks to onemyself too much.
When I’m about to wake up in the morning, a flood of colorful thoughts and voices come and go randomly throughout my mind.
They are so fast that I can barely catch up.
They fill my head and make me exhausted.
They are so overwhelming that even after I get up, I can’t stop thinking.
It actually scareds me.
But I had've never told anyone, because I thought I might be somewhatsound insane and I didn’t want to confuse anyone.
That’s why I decided to borrow the book from the library.
After reading it, I was deeply convinced and decided to keep working on reducing my harmful self-talk.
There were some specific suggestions in that book, and I picked up some of them to try.
But after a while, I forgot all about ithem.
Forgot about 'them' as in, the suggestions.
Today, by chance, I came across a TED Talk by Ethan Kross, the author of the book. With that video, I could review the key points in 15 minutes.
But I still feelt there was something more in that book, something that really mattered to me and touched me, though I can’t exactly tellremember what it was now.
So, I’m going to borrow it again and reread it over.
'reread' is a common way to say you're reading something again.
Feedback
I think having a mental monologue is only harmful if it's negative. I always try to speak to myself kindly in my head, but sometimes I forget.
Your English is excellent!
It means, that they do not live in the present moment during that self talkinternal monologue.
More natural to use that than a comma in the first part.
"Self talk" isn't an expression used in English, the idea of expressing your thoughts in your had as speech is called an "internal monologue"
I felt like this was exactly what was happening to me.
Maybe I’m a person who talks to oneselfthemselves too much.
Themselves really looks like it should be plural only, but is used for individuals too, and is more natural than oneself here.
"One", "Oneself" etc. are actually pretty old fashioned and their use is uncommon these days.
After reading it, I was deeply convinced and decided to keep working on reducing my harmful self-talk.thoughts
Thoughts is probably more natural here than repeating internal monologue, the context would make it clear what kind of thoughts are being discussed.
Today, by chance, I came across a TED Talk by Ethan Kross, the author of the book. With that video, I could review the key points in 15 minutes.
Spaces after periods are required.
Feedback
I'm not sure I agree with the idea that an internal monologue is inherently harmful or prevents you engaging with the world, personally.
May 18, 2025
Thank you! For me, the problem is that it’s too much and I cannot control it. If that is not happening to you, I am glad.😌 The author said it can be a reliable coach if you handle it correctly.
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How to deal with the voice inside your head |
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A little while ago, I read a book called “Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It.” I read the Japanese translation, but the original was written in English. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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The book says that most people spend much of their waking time talking to themselves in their heads. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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It means, they do not live in the present moment during that self talk. It means More natural to use that than a comma in the first part. "Self talk" isn't an expression used in English, the idea of expressing your thoughts in your had as speech is called an "internal monologue" This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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What a pity. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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I felt this was exactly what was happening to me. I felt like this was exactly what was happening to me. |
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Maybe I’m a person who talks to oneself too much. Maybe I’m a person who talks to Themselves really looks like it should be plural only, but is used for individuals too, and is more natural than oneself here. "One", "Oneself" etc. are actually pretty old fashioned and their use is uncommon these days. Maybe I’m a person who talks to |
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When I’m about to wake up in the morning, a flood of colorful thoughts and voices come and go randomly throughout my mind. When I |
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They are so fast that I can barely catch up. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
|
They fill my head and make me exhausted. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
|
They are so overwhelming that even after I get up, I can’t stop thinking. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
|
It actually scared me. It actually scare |
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But I had never told anyone, because I thought I might be somewhat insane and I didn’t want to confuse anyone. But I |
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That’s why I decided to borrow the book from the library. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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After reading it, I was deeply convinced and decided to keep working on reducing my harmful self-talk. After reading it, I was deeply convinced and decided to keep working on reducing my harmful Thoughts is probably more natural here than repeating internal monologue, the context would make it clear what kind of thoughts are being discussed. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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There were some specific suggestions in that book, and I picked up some of them to try. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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But after a while, I forgot all about it. But after a while, I forgot all about Forgot about 'them' as in, the suggestions. |
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Today, by chance, I came across a TED Talk by Ethan Kross, the author of the book.With that video, I could review the key points in 15 minutes. Today, by chance, I came across a TED Talk by Ethan Kross, the author of the book. With that video, I could review the key points in 15 minutes. Spaces after periods are required. Today, by chance, I came across a TED Talk by Ethan Kross, the author of the book. With that video, I could review the key points in 15 minutes. |
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But I still feel there was something more in that book, something that really mattered to me and touched me, though I can’t exactly tell what it was now. But I still fe |
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So, I’m going to borrow it again and read it over. So, I’m going to borrow it again and reread it 'reread' is a common way to say you're reading something again. |
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