Rethinking Thinking

[Thinker]

“In the absence of mental distortion, you cannot experience low self-worth or depression!” - DB Burns

[Thinker]

One of my goals is to think better, which will likely be a life-time goal.

Here’s a 5-minute video reviewing 5 common thinking distortions:

1) Emotional Reasoning
2) Disqualifying the positive
3) Mind Reading
4) All-or-Nothing Thinking
5) Catastrophizing

[David13]

Don't over think it.
dc

I wonder if I can thank myself for my previous post in this thread?

[Thinker]

I remember one time I was interacting with some young person, and I came up with a little mistake. I corrected the mistake, and commented "ah, not thinking, I guess".
The young person then showed me some wisdom, and said "no, maybe thinking too much".

Yes, sometimes we do think too much, over think a thing, or just get distracted from simple reality by revolving and spinning endless thoughts in our head, when reality is just a simple little thing that we must accept, like it or not.
dc

That’s true! Thank you, David. I was just thinking about you - hoping and praying you’re healthy and happy.

Recently, I read how creativity is enhanced by not thinking too much - by being less self-conscious.

[Thinker]

I’ve learned in trying to correct thinking distortions and incorporating affirmations that:
* Affirmations need to be believable to you (start small if you need to), &
* State things in the positive. This can go for parenting too, eg: Rather than say, “Stop yelling” ... say, “Speak softer please.” So, for each cognitive distortion, I’m listing positive opposites - healthier thoughts, more positive labels.

1) filtering: unfiltered, whole, pure
2) disqualifying positive: be positive, appreciate the good
3) emotional reasoning: reasonable
4) jumping to conclusions: fact-gathering, investigating
5) labeling: acknowledge complexity
6) magnification: see the big picture
7) polarized thinking: mix, validity in different perspectives

8) control fallacy: live & let live
9) blaming: innocence, ignorance
10) fallacy of change: acceptance
11) fallacy of fairness: unique talent, time & season for each
12) personalization: secure in goodness
13) shoulds: perfectly imperfect

[Thinker]

After searching, looks like I hadn’t shared this so I will.
(Feel free to add to or disagree...)

Correcting 15 cognitive distortions:
1) Always Right
2) Blaming
3) Catastrophizing
4) Control Fallacies
5) Emotional Reasoning

6) Fallacy of change
7) Fallacy of Fairness
8) Filtering
9) Global Labelling

10) Heaven’s Reward Fallacy
11) Jumping to Conclusions
12) Overgeneralization
13) Personalization
14) Polarized Thinking
15) Shoulds



1) I’m not always right. Sometimes everyone’s mistaken.
2) I take my responsibility & let others take theirs.
3) In the big picture, everything works out.
4) God’s in control, by sharing control with all.
5) Feelings aren’t facts.

6) I focus on improving myself & what I can change.
7) Fairness & comparing are irrelevant. We each are unique & in unique circumstances.
8) I focus on what uplifts, encourages & inspires while keeping bad in periphery.
9) The only fitting, eternally true label for anyone is a child of God.
10) This life is for experiencing joy!

11) Consider possibilities.
12) There may be general rules but also exceptions.
13) How people behave is more about them than anyone else.
14) Yin & Yang are interconnected parts of each in both & are an integrated whole.
15) Goals are good, but allow for imperfection. Still ok.