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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/cadet-inner-dialogue

A friend shares your secret and you're furious. Which emotion tool means quietly talking to yourself first?

Inner dialogue, calm self-talk before you react.

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  1. Inner dialogue ✔
  2. Contingent reward
  3. A leap of abstraction

Why: Inner dialogue means talking to yourself, out loud or silently, before you react. It gives strong feelings a moment to cool so you can pick a mature response.

Huh, didn't know that: Stepping away to a quiet place, or even grabbing a snack, can give inner dialogue time to work.

The dad joke
Why did the cadet talk to himself before drill? He needed a second opinion he could trust.
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References

Answer: Inner dialogue. Inner dialogue means talking to yourself, out loud or silently, before you react. It gives strong feelings a moment to cool so you can pick a mature response.

  1. Learn to Lead, Volume 2, Chapter 7 (Civil Air Patrol) www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/Vol2LetterLowFinal_8BDFDB373E830.pdf
    One way to manage emotions is through inner dialogue, or talking to yourself.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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