---
title: "A new Army field manual has tips for ‘productive self-talk.’ Here are some examples the service should add"
description: "A recently released Army field manual gives some examples of \"productive self-talk\" soldiers should use when times are tough, and they're a very particular kind of special"
date: "2020-10-06"
modified: "2020-10-06"
authors:
  - name: "Haley Britzky"
    job_title: "Former Army Reporter"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/haley-britzky/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-manual-productive-self-talk/"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "Humor"
  - "Mandatory Fun"
  - "Tactics"
  - "Tech & Tactics"
  - "Training"
---

# A new Army field manual has tips for ‘productive self-talk.’ Here are some examples the service should add

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/dude-thumb.jpg>)

A recently released Army field manual gives some examples of "productive self-talk" soldiers should use when times are tough, and they're, well, a very particular kind of special.

One type of productive self-talk that the Army encourages in [Field Manual 7-22](<https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30714-FM_7-22-000-WEB-1.pdf>) — which expands upon the Army's ongoing holistic health push — is "cognitive reframing," which helps soldiers recognize "the positive in an otherwise suboptimal situation."

One of the examples provided by the Army? "Running up hills: hills are my friend. They only make me stronger."

Another example: "Hot weather training: this training is preparing me to be more lethal in the desert."

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/screen-shot-2020-10-06-at-34747-pm.png>)

Productive self-talk "helps to maintain a focus on performing a task correctly" and "encourage\[s\] optimal performance," the manual says.

"Soldiers with positive attitudes are more able to cope with adversity and be successful with challenging tasks. Motivational self-talk can improve attitude and focus on the task."

So to help the Army out — we just want to help! — the Task & Purpose team came up with a few other examples of productive self-talk that soldiers should keep in mind:

- **Living in a rat-infested hovel on base:** This is preparing me for my deployment to \[name a country\].
- **Practicing the Army sprint-drag-carry:** This is preparing me to drag my blacked-out buddy back to the barracks this weekend.
- **Looking up at mold coming through the vent in my barracks**: This is preparing me for chemical warfare.
- **When your deployment gets extended:** This is preparing me for even more crushing disappointment I'll inevitably experience during my military career.
- **Being told to come into work despite someone probably having COVID-19:** This is preparing me for a career in a medical MOS that I didn't want and didn't sign up for.
- **Almost hurling everywhere because you're hungover at morning PT:** This is preparing me for when that MRE just doesn't sit right.
- **Filling out meaningless hand receipts:** This is preparing me to fill out bullshit paperwork at the VA.
- **Standing around in formation:** This is preparing me to stand around in formation.

## Author
Haley Britzky was the Task & Purpose Army reporter from 2019 to 2022. She previously worked at Axios covering breaking news. She reports on important developments within the service, from new uniforms to new policies; the realities of military life facing soldiers and their families; and broader cultural issues that expand outside of the Army, touching each of the military services.Â

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-britzky-b09022a0/>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/halbritz>)