What if one of the most powerful tools for changing your health and well-being is something you already do all day long? You talk to yourself.

Not necessarily out loud. Most of us have a constant stream of thoughts, observations, judgments, expectations and reminders running through our minds.

The way you repeatedly talk to yourself can influence what you believe about yourself, what you pay attention to, the choices you make and the actions you take. That doesn't mean you can simply think your way into a healthier life. Positive thinking isn't a substitute for action.

But the way you think can influence the actions you're willing to take — and over time, those actions can become part of who you are.