Thinking out loud improves mental reasoning

Thinking out loud is not always a sign of madness. It is an exercise in healthy sanity where we improve our mental reasoning, where this private speech optimizes our cognitive resources, allowing us to be more centered, focused on that “here and now.” We are facing a type of behavior that is worth exercising daily as a self-regulation mechanism.

Anyone who has or works daily with children between 5 and 7 years old will have noticed how common the habit of thinking out loud is among children of this age.. They do it while they play, while they interact with objects, they do it while alone or in front of other people. Far from being a characteristic of immaturity or part of that stage where invisible friends that often worry parents so much are common, it can be said that it is an essential practice for the development of the child himself.

Thinking out loud is a way to guide your own behavior. It’s more, The development of speech and thought are equal, which is why this egocentric communication is so favorable as well as recommended.. However, at an age, we adults begin to recommend that they stop doing it, since it is not socially acceptable and it is necessary that they learn to internalize that childish voice that previously played freely and that had become accustomed to its own sound.

Thus, all of us reach our maturity by being mute thinkers and silent readers. Everything we do in solitude (reasoning, working, reading, etc.) we do in that scenario of reserved silence, without knowing the benefits that having a conversation with the most important person in the world can bring us: ourselves.

Thinking out loud, private speech

Thinking out loud was, as we already know, a decisive step at a certain stage of our childhood. Now, In our adult work, whether we believe it or not, we still need that practice., that personal and cognitive development tool that is worth using on certain occasions. However, it should be noted that it is not about speaking out loud at all times as if our brain had a speaker installed.

What we must exercise punctually and at certain times of the day is what is known as “private speech.” This is a support mechanism to give us “feedback”, to correct us, guide us or focus our attention. Now, there is a small detail that we cannot neglect: thinking out loud also implies doing it with respect. We say this because it is very common for many people to talk to themselves out loud to reproach themselves for things and to emphasize their clumsiness, their mistakes.

On the other hand, something that has been demonstrated in a recent study carried out at the University of Wisconsin and published in the journal Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, the thing is Thinking out loud benefits our neurological health. Stress is regulated much better and, in addition, very intense activity has been observed in the left inferior frontal gyrus, associated with problem solving, planning and the ability to focus attention.

Thinking aloud: the different modalities

Thinking out loud or reasoning to ourselves when we are alone is not a trait of insanity or mental illness. It is a dialogue with ourselves that we can use at some point during the day as a self-regulation exercise. Likewise, this healthy tool can have different purposes, different modalities. Let’s see it:

Reason about different options

In our daily lives it is common to have to make choices almost constantly. One way to facilitate reflection, analysis and contrast of information is to think out loud.. It will help us clarify ideas, analyze our emotions, and clarify objectives.

Motivate us

If there is something that many athletes do, it is to motivate themselves out loud, to give each other messages of encouragement, improvement… Likewise, and when the moment requires it, it is worth asking ourselves: “Let’s see, why do you feel this way now? You have worked hard to get here, so now there are no fears, we have to move forward.”

Promote a more positive dialogue

The negative discourse, the one that invalidates us, the one that preys on the “You can’t, you’re going to fail, you better not dare or leave it for tomorrow.” It is undoubtedly the one that harms us the most in our daily lives. So, One way to stop this ominous flow, to empty that stagnant water that corrupts our self-esteem and poisons hopes, is by putting private speech into practice.

Thinking aloud clarifies ideas and guides thinking in a clear direction: towards what is useful and constructive. With this self-regulation mechanism we calm many of those problematic sources within us to bring them to light and feel more focused, as well as decisive.

In conclusion, Talking to ourselves at certain times of the day is a more than obvious psychological health practice. Doing it out loud is in turn an effective resource with which to enhance many cognitive processes and with which to take our brain to another level where it promotes other connections. If we need it, if we feel at a specific moment that thinking out loud is going to help us in some way, let’s not be afraid to do it.

You might be interested…