Thinking…
Thinking is a word you know, you use, you talk about, you do, but have you really sat down and contemplated how your brain thinks? The definition of thinking is to use the mind to consider or reason about something. But, what if your thought process is mainly negative or irrational? Are you really using your best mindset to consider or reason about anything?
I have talked about negative thinking and cognitive distortions in the past. Cognitive distortions are unreasonable thoughts or beliefs that alter one’s perception of reality. When a belief is unchallenged long enough, it becomes an automatic thought. You think these thoughts are “normal” and see no reason to question them. Many people, who have anxiety or depression, can identify at least one cognitive distortion within themselves. These irrational beliefs distort perception and hinder recovery. Since I have been through the various types of cognitive distortions in the past, I will focus on what you can do to question your thoughts/beliefs and quickly determine if it is rational, or not.
First, ask yourself if the thought/belief will help you or hinder you. If you answer that the thought/belief isn’t helping you and is actually getting in your way, you would benefit from taking a few minutes to consider thoughts/beliefs that will help advance your self-improvement.
Second, ask yourself if the thought/belief aligns with known facts. For example, your thought/belief is that you can’t do anything right; however, you were just praised at work by your supervisor. Your thought/belief cannot be true because obviously, you did something right. That is the simple version. Now, if your thought/belief does not match the known facts, what thought/belief will align? Maybe instead of thinking you never do anything right, you can shift your thought/belief to you made a mistake today.
Next, ask yourself if your thought/belief makes sense. You had a rough day at work and now you are thinking you are not cut out for the job (you’ve had for 8 years). Does this make sense? Not really. So you had a bad day. You missed a deadline. A client became angry with you. Sure, this is upsetting, but it doesn’t define you and your ability to perform your job. Don’t let your mind do that. Take control of these irrational thoughts. You tell your mind who you are!
These three questions will give you a basic answer of what you are thinking. Write these questions down; print this page out; or take a picture of it with your phone and refer to it until it becomes a habit to challenge your thoughts.
Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right. –Henry Ford
Not only are people experiencing improved mental health with EMDR, they are maintaining wellness without experiencing relapse. If you feel stuck in the past, you don’t have to be. Seek out a qualified EMDR therapist, which you can find at Borum and Associates.
For more information about EMDR, or to schedule an appointment, please contact Borum and Associates at 863-608-9392.
The past affects the present even without our being aware of it. – Dr. Francine Shapiro
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