“We are addicted to our thoughts. We cannot change anything if we cannot change our thinking.”
― Santosh Kalwar
Introduction
Introduction
It is not that easy to look at our thinking objectively. The brain is an amazing organ that has the capacity to constantly make new connections and take us to new heights - if we have the desire, but on the other hand, the brain is constantly looking for patterns and if you keep on repeating thinking patterns, it will keep you there without you even realising it. This is not all bad – habits free us from thousands of small decisions we don’t have to make on a daily basis – how to brush our teeth, make a cup of tea, run a bath, etc. These decisions are habitual, effortless. At the same time, the brain’s dependence on automatic routines or habitual thinking patterns, can be dangerous. It can be as much a curse as a benefit.
Negative thinking patterns add unnecessary stress and anxiety to our lives. In his book Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy, Dr. David Burns outlines common cognitive disorders such as:
- All-or-Nothing Thinking:
- Thinking in terms of black or white, or in extremes.
- Overgeneralization:
- Inaccurately concluding that one unpleasant experience will lead to a negative future filled with many more of them.
- Magnification (or Catastrophizing):
- Exaggerating negative details of an event and overemphasizing your own imperfections and fears, making things into a much bigger deal than they actually are.
- Emotional Reasoning:
- Believing that how you feel accurately represents the truth of your reality.
- Using 'Should statements':
- Using the word 'should' to motivate behavior when it ultimately leave you feeling pressured and frustrated.
- We can add overthinking as a negative thinking pattern as well.
Some of you may be facing work and career requirements, where if you want to stay in a certain role or be promoted or become a manager, your company may require you to get a degree. This is great when you also want to get a degree and see that the career path ahead of you is what you want. This is even better if your boss and company are prepared to support you in getting your degree, and you can negotiate for support, accountability by adding this to your personal development KPI or apply for funding and study leave. Some companies go further, and put together groups of employees and work with higher education providers to provide a programme that fits your context. This can be a double-edged sword if your company expects you to study for a degree but won’t give you time to write exams or support your studies at all. So start a conversation with your manager or HR about what can and won’t happen. Ask to talk to people in the company who are currently studying to see if the support is real or conditional.
The Power of Changed Thinking
The Power of Changed Thinking
According to the Oxford Dictionaries, 'Thinking' can be defined as "the process of considering or reasoning about something". Or according to the APA (American Psychological Association) Dictionary of Psychology: "Cognitive behaviour in which ideas, images, mental representations, or other hypothetical elements of thought are experienced or manipulated. In this sense, thinking includes imagining, remembering, problem solving, daydreaming, free association, concept formation, and many other processes."
The human brain thinks in a number of distinct ways which can be deliberately tested and challenged, and therefore trained for use in a structured way, allowing us to develop new ways for thinking about particular issues. Research shows that differences in the physical connections of the brain are at the root of what make people think and behave differently from one another. Researchers have mapped the exact brain regions where individual differences occur. Their findings reveal that individuals' brain connectivity varies more in areas that relate to integrating information than in areas for initial perception of the world.
According to Kobus Neethling, founder and president of the South African Creativity Foundation, it has always been accepted that thinking can develop spontaneously because of environmental factors, mentor relationships and countless other stimuli. It is also true that the use of creative and whole brain techniques can ignite exceptional performance. It all starts with understanding your own thinking preferences.
What is important, is to realise that you don’t have to be a slave to old and negative thinking patterns. You can change your thinking! Conformity to what is generally accepted as the truth as spread by social media without challenging it, is not the way to go – it leads to stereotyped, distorted thinking. AND - thinking directly affects your emotions.
How to Change Your Thinking
You are in control and can change these patterns by following these simple steps:
Four Easy Steps to Change Your Thinking
Four Easy Steps to Change Your Thinking
- Identify your negative / distorted thinking patterns: Keep a journal and write the negative thoughts down – it will help you becoming more aware of your thinking.
- Challenge your thinking: It is important to challenge your thoughts - not all thoughts are true! Is this really the truth? Take a step back and assess the negative thought.
- Change your inner talk: Rephrase your thinking to make it positive, real, compassionate, hopeful. Write it down next to the negative thought.
- Keep on doing this for at least 27 days to create new thinking patterns.
Conclusion
Conclusion
We can train our minds to change our brains. The quality of your thoughts has a direct impact on the quality of your life. So, if you want to live a fulfilling and meaningful life, start by paying attention to the things you think about every day.
References
References
Sophia Mueller, Danhong Wang, Michael D. Fox, B.T. Thomas Yeo, Jorge Sepulcre, Mert R. Sabuncu, Rebecca Shafee, Jie Lu, Hesheng Liu. Individual Variability in Functional Connectivity Architecture of the Human Brain. Neuron, 2013; 77 (3): 586 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.12.028