Mental! · Get Real with WesleyGW

16d (edited) • TRANSFORM

Mental!

Last Thursday evening My wife and I were at our church small group and we were talking with the group about the Book of Galations.

I made a comment and the leader of the group said “you really said that well about how Paul would feel. You acted it out great! That was really good.”

I asked what do you mean. He said: “when you talked in the first person as if you were Paul it really made sense and was really good in how you emphasized how he may have been feeling about all of this. “

I said “Oh, I do that sometimes!” I didn’t even realize I was doing it!

This got me to thinking a little more about myself and how my brain processes things. I have done this particular move all of my life. In my research I found out this is called “Enactment or Free Direct speech”

It went on to say that this is :

“Why it happens: This is a common trait of high-empathy processors. Your brain isn’t just recalling facts; it is performing an Experience-taking simulation, where you temporarily assume the identity and emotions of the person you are discussing.”

This got me to thinking about another thing I have done since I can remember as a very young child is verbalize to myself. (Ok ok yes- Talk to myself). :).

I stopped caring a long time ago that people potentially thought I was crazy. I don’t typically do it in front of others but I have gotten caught doing it more times than I can count. :). Who cares! If they think I am nuts, well, it will keep them alert! :) And who knows maybe I am … but It has worked for me thus far so, whatever..

This is called external self-talk or "private speech"—is a normal behavior that most adults do, especially when facing complex tasks or high stress

It can help with many things in many different ways like Sequencing tasks, Visual search, Cognitive clarity. Can also help with emotional regulation= burning emotions, self distancing, anxiety management and so on… Honestly because I do a lot of these things I found it fascinating and further “talking” to Google AI about it was also fascinating!

What was a big affirmation to me was the following:

When is it most common?

Isolation: People who spend a lot of time alone or were only children are more likely to engage in it.
Novelty: You're more likely to do it when in new environments or dealing with highly stressful scenarios.

As a child and well into adulthood I was a “loner” I was more comfortable much of the time by myself. I still lean this way very much so. Not that I do not enjoy the company of family or good friends, but I am often alone and am perfectly fine with it.

Note on Health: This is considered a sign of high cognitive functioning as long as you are aware you are talking to yourself and are not responding to internal voices you believe are separate entities.

LOL! I included the Note! I am good here!!! Not responding to voices !!! :)

I won’t prolong this much further . If you made it this far thank you so much! With my struggle to forgive certain people and actions in my past it ties in with a lot of this! I was not observing the memories I was largely reliving them when I would run them through my head! I would even feel heart rate increase and blood pressure rise etc. (physiological response). Since using the method I was lead to, in saying out loud “I forgive them” that response has largely stopped and I am more of an observer of those memories no longer a participant. Thank you God!

Thanks all for reading my lengthy post! God Bless!

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