Perspective – what is it?
So here are some of the common Thought Distortions I see my clients have:
Keep Things in Perspective. Even when facing BIGStuff events that could include loss and grief, try to consider the stressful situation from a BIG picture point of view and keep both a short term and long-term set of outcomes in place.
Perspective. Avoid blowing the event out of proportion. If you don’t, it can lead to what some call Thought Distortions.
Thought Distortions And Keeping Things In Perspective
Thought Distortions can be caused in part by a very narrow focus. We get pulled offside by our pain and grief.
Over Generalization. In this thought distortion, we come to a conclusion based on a single issue or a single incident or a single piece of evidence. If something bad happens even just once, we expect it to happen repeatedly. A person can get caught in a cycle of seeing a one time only event as part of a never-ending pattern of negative issues in their life.
Jumping to Conclusions. Individuals who jump to conclusions feel that without others even saying so, they know what others are feeling and why they act the way they do. In particular, they are able to determine how people are feeling toward them.
For example, a person may conclude that someone is reacting poorly toward them but doesn’t take the time to find out if they are correct; or a person may feel that things will turn out badly, and will be convinced that their thoughts are already an established fact!
These are just two of the mindsets we need to take care not to fall into.
So, until next time I wish you a life filled with Resiliency for Life! Just Imagine Yourself with more Resilience.
Michael