What to do if your inner voice is cruel | Ethan Kross for Big Think+

AI Summary

Ethan Kross, a professor of psychology and management and author of "Chatter," discusses the pervasive issue of "chatter," which he defines as the dark side of the inner voice. He explains that humans spend a significant portion of their waking hours, between one-third and one-half, not living in the present, often engaging in internal dialogue. While the inner voice serves crucial evolutionary purposes, such as problem-solving, verbal working memory, planning, self-control, and identity formation, its negative manifestation, chatter, can be detrimental. Chatter leads to rumination, worry, and catastrophizing, trapping individuals in negative thought cycles. Kross highlights that chatter impairs focus, creates relational friction, increases irritability, and can lead to displaced aggression. Furthermore, he emphasizes its severe negative physical health effects, explaining that chronically elevated stress perpetuated by chatter can predict serious conditions like cardiovascular disease, chronic inflammation, and cancer. The good news, according to Kross, is that a science-based toolkit exists to help individuals regain control of their inner voice. These tools encompass individual strategies, leveraging relationships, and interacting with physical environments, with rituals being a prime example of creating order to compensate for feelings of being out of control. He cites tennis player Rafael Nadal's use of specific rituals to manage his internal dialogue during matches. Kross concludes that experiencing chatter is a fundamental aspect of the human condition, and the key is to discover the unique combination of tools that work best for each individual.

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