The Self-Talk Workout

The Self-Talk Workout explores the crucial impact of self-talk and provides evidence-based methods to transform your inner dialogue from critical to compassionate. This comprehensive guide helps readers transition from being their own harshest critic to becoming their best ally.

If you're committed to being kinder to yourself but uncertain about how to achieve this transformation, or if you view self-criticism as an immutable aspect of your personality, you're not alone. Many suffer the detrimental effects of excessive self-criticism on their mental health, energy levels, careers, and relationships. The manifestations of unhealthy self-talk can vary greatly, ranging from persistent inner dissatisfaction to profound self-loathing and the pain of internalised oppression or abuse.

With over twenty years of experience, psychologist and mindfulness teacher Dr. Rachel Goldsmith Turow introduces the "self-talk workout," offering six practical exercises designed to replace self-criticism with self-kindness and encouragement. Techniques such as "Spot the Success," "Fail Forward," and "Allowing All Feelings, Skillfully," require just a few minutes a day and can be practised individually or combined to enhance your self-talk workout. Each chapter includes a core exercise, variations tailored to different needs, scientific evidence supporting the techniques, and inspiring success stories.

Turow draws on personal anecdotes and her work as a psychotherapist, alongside insights from her students and esteemed public figures like Michelle Obama and Thich Nhat Hanh. These examples demonstrate that the weight of harsh self-criticism doesn't have to be permanent—our relationship with ourselves is something we can change.