Unhelpful Patterns of Thinking
Positive thinking is important for success in all areas. Avoid these negative patterns of thinking to avoid falling into a downward spiral of negativity.
All or Nothing Thinking: Black-and-white thinking. It sounds like, “If I don’t do this right, I’m a failure.”
Overgeneralization: Seeing a pattern based on a single event or being overly broad. It sounds like, “I never win” or “Nothing good ever happens to me.”
Jumping to Conclusions: This can be two things. Thinking you know what others are thinking or thinking you can predict the future.
Mental Filter: Noticing our failures, but not seeing our successes.
Disqualifying the Positive: Discounting the good things that have happened or that you’ve done; thinking it doesn’t count.
Emotional Reasoning: Assuming because we feel a certain way, what we think must be true. It sounds like, “I feel embarrassed so I must be an idiot.”
Catastrophizing or Minimizing: Blowing things out of proportion or making them seem less important.
Should Statements: Using words like “should/must/ought” which make us feel guilty or like we’ve failed.
