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ZERO
TOLERANCE TO NEGATIVE THINKING |
ALTHOUGH ACCIDENTS HAPPEN, COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS ARE OPTIONAL
Ten common cognitive
distortions found in the mirrors of your mind include:
1. All-or-nothing thinking
2.
Overgeneralization
3. Mental
filter
4.
Disqualifying the positive
5.
Jumping to conclusions
6.
Magnification and minimization
7.
Emotional reasoning
8. Should
statements
9.
Labeling and Mislabeling
10.
Personalization
Chapter
two discusses each of these mental mirrors in detail, and I
won’t repeat that information here. You can review chapter two
if you need to refresh your mind on the exact nature of each
cognitive distortion.
This
chapter is a tutorial that gives you the opportunity to look in
the mirrors of my mind, and you can put a name on the cognitive
distortions that you find there. So let’s get started. You’re
the doctor, and I’m the patient. Diagnose the cognitive
distortions reflected in the mirrors of my mind.
In New
Zealand, I had a car accident in which my vehicle rolled over
trapping me inside. I was unable to move because I had two
broken legs, five broken ribs, a punctured lung, a fractured
shoulder blade, and a dislocated knee cap. I also had internal
bleeding that threatened my life. While I was waiting for the
firemen to cut me out of the vehicle using the Jaws of Life, I
had plenty of time to look at the reflections in the mirrors of
my mind. And while I was in the hospital for two months
recovering from my injuries, I had plenty of opportunities to
allow cognitive distortions to take command and control of my
mind. So listen to what could have happened if I had allowed
the cognitive distortions to run roughshod through my life.
Listen to what these cognitive distortions could have said and
would have said if they had free reign.
All-or-nothing thinking
shouts, “Your legs are broken and your body is bashed. If you
aren’t in perfect health with peak fitness, then your body is
ruined. It’s totally worthless. Why don’t you just crawl into
the dumpster behind the hospital so they can pick you up and
throw you on the trash heap of life.”
Overgeneralization
screeches, “You probably aren’t going to die, but your life is
over. The metal screws and plates in your legs are going to
cause chronic pain, and just wait until the arthritis starts in
your broken knee. You aren’t the person you used to be. You
won’t be able to get on your boat to complete your sailing trip
around the world. You won’t be able to write a book about your
sailing adventures. You won’t be able chronicle your adventures
on your web site (maxingout.com) because you aren’t going to
have any adventures. Face the facts. Every area of your life
is ruined by this disaster.
Mental
filter says, “You
just got run over by the Mack truck of life. Do you know why
that happened? It’s because you were taking too much risk. If
you hadn’t been sailing around the world on your yacht and
touring in New Zealand, this accident would never have
happened. It’s a dangerous world out there, and it’s time for
you to start worshiping at the altar of security. There’s no
doubt about it, because of this accident you finally can see
that adventure isn’t worth the risk. You need to wear safety
glasses, a helmet, and shin guards, and then buy a house where
you can sit in a rocking chair on your front porch so you can be
safe.”
Disqualifying the positive
says, “ While it’s true you just spent six wonderful months
cruising across the Pacific Ocean, that doesn’t count. What’s
really important is you are physically disabled, and you will be
unable to sail for the next year. While it’s true you survived
the accident, and you can walk with assistance, what really
counts is the fact you can’t walk well enough to get on your
boat and sail to Australia.
Jumping
to conclusions says,
“You are in big trouble now. You are going to get fat embolism
from the long bone fractures in your legs. When the fat hits
your lungs, you are going to die. And if fat embolism doesn’t
get you, you are going to get blood clots in your legs while you
lie in bed for six weeks. When you get out of bed, those clots
are going to dislodge, travel to your lungs, and you will
instantly die. Do you see that blood transfusion running into
your veins? They probably haven’t properly screened the blood
for AIDS and hepatitis virus. Face the facts. In a few months
you are going to come down with hepatitis or AIDS.”
Magnification says,
“This accident is the worst thing that could ever happen to
you. In fact, it’s hard to imagine how you could be in worse
shape. You have had a few problems in the past, but your
problems now are totally off the Richter scale. Why don’t you
just surrender to your totally insurmountable and overwhelming
problems?”
Emotional reasoning
shouts, “I feel so bad, I know my life is really over now. I
feel so dizzy when I try to stand up, I just know I will never
walk normally again. I am going to be crippled for the rest of
my life.”
Should
statements say,
“This accident should never have happened. I should have been
more careful. I shouldn’t have brought that van and driven in a
foreign country on the opposite side of the road. All of this
misery should never have happened.”
Labeling and mislabeling
say, “I can’t believe how stupid I was to have this accident.
There must be something wrong with me. I was a real idiot to
think that I could drive on the opposite side of the road in a
foreign country without having an accident.”
Personalization
says, “You have been in the hospital recovering from your
injuries for two months now, and your children haven’t been
studying their correspondence courses. It’s your responsibility
to make sure they do their lessons every day. When they end up
with a poor education, it will be your fault. You should have
been teaching them their daily lessons from your hospital bed.”
When the
Mack truck of life ran over me in New Zealand, I faced a massive
challenge. Was I going to let the voice of depression and
despair rule my life, or was I going to reject the cognitive
distortions that threatened my peace of mind?
I
learned a valuable lesson. Accidents happen, but cognitive
distortions are optional.
You are
going to face thousands of challenges in your life, and you must
decide whether you will let twisted thoughts and distorted
emotions take over your mind. Just because you have a lot of
problems, doesn’t mean you have to slide down the slippery slope
of depression. Depression is optional, and you can choose to
not be depressed.
It’s
impossible to become depressed if you reject the cognitive
distortions when they pop into your mind. That’s what chapter
ten is about. You must reject your cognitive distortions so
that depression never gains a foothold.
Remember,
if you want to have a mind free from depression, nobody can stop
you.
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THE POSITIVE WEB RING
The Positive Web Ring has eleven positive web
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The wheel of change always turns in the direction of what you put into
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Give your mind a push in a positive direction today. Cruise your way
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PositiveWebRing.com
PositiveSelfTalk.com
PositiveThinkingRadio.com
PositiveGraphics.com
PositiveChristianRadio.com
PositiveButterflies.com
MaximumStrength PositiveThinking.com
ZeroToleranceToNegativeThinking.com
TooManyDrummers.com
GodLovesU.com
Maxingout.com
RED SEA CHRONICLES DVD
When Dr. Dave isn't working as a flying doctor for the Indian Health
Service, He is sailing around the world on his sailboat. Find
out what it's like to sail on the ocean of your dreams by watching
Captain Dave's DVD.
Red Sea Chronicles DVD Previews |
