Courses, Big Think

Managing the voice in your head with Ethan Kross

7 lectures, 49 min in all

Your inner voice is typically an asset. It helps you make plans, solve problems, maintain self-control, and keep information lively. However that’s not always the case. Sometimes your inner voice can transform from a blessing to a curse, and negative thoughts and emotions come to dominate your thinking. This causes us to worry, ruminate, and catastrophize, which traps us in a negative thought cycle. The good news is that there is a science-based method to help you regain control of your inner voice. Psychologist Ethan Kross calls this dark side of your inner voice “chatter.” In this video lesson, he explains how you can better understand it and how to harness it. Learning objectives: Recognize what causes you to experience chatter. Adopt a broader perspective on your problems. View threats as challenges. Share chatter productively and help others do the same. Minimize chatter by creating rituals and introducing more awe into your life.