Blog
This is the first installment of a series on the most common “cognitive distortions,” or thinking errors. Most of us are subject to these, and they can hold us back from our full potential and cause totally unnecessary angst. The good news is that once you know what they are, they’re pretty easy to spot and self-correct. […]
This is the final installment of our series on the most common “cognitive distortions,” or thinking errors. Cognitive distortion #9 is… Disqualifying the positive What it is: “Disqualifying the positive” is a cognitive distortion that involves downplaying or dismissing positive experiences, achievements, or feedback while focusing solely on the negative aspects of a situation. It’s almost as […]
Today we’re on to part 8 of our series on the most common “cognitive distortions,” or thinking errors. This is the second-to-last installment before we wrap up this series. Cognitive distortion #8 is… “Should” statements What it is: At its core, the “should statements” cognitive distortion revolves around rigid expectations and self-imposed standards we place […]
Today we’re on to part 7 of our series on the most common “cognitive distortions,” or thinking errors. Cognitive distortion #7 is… Personalization What it is: Personalization is a cognitive distortion that involves taking things personally, even when they have nothing to do with you. It assumes that everything others say or do is a […]
Today we’re on to the next part of our series on the most common “cognitive distortions,” or thinking errors. I’m bundling two distortions together this time, because they’re opposite sides of the same coin: The “fallacy of change” and the “fallacy of control.” What they are: The fallacy of change involves the belief that external circumstances or […]
Today we’re on to part 4 of our series on the most common “cognitive distortions,” or thinking errors. Cognitive distortion #4 is… All-or-nothing thinking What it is: All-or-nothing thinking, also known as black-and-white thinking, involves seeing things in extremes with no middle ground. This type of thinking can lead to rigid and inflexible beliefs and […]
Today we’re on to part 3 of our series on the most common “cognitive distortions,” or thinking errors. Cognitive distortion #3 is… Magical thinking.. What it is: Overall, “magical thinking” refers to attempts to control external outcomes via thoughts or rituals that clearly don’t have the power to actually affect the outcome. Sounds silly, but […]
