Monday, September 11, 2023

Obstacles to Our Goals

Obstacles are encountered every day of our lives, but what we do and how we react during these events will determine the outcomes of such events. Our reactions to these obstacles will determine if the situation becomes a minor annoyance to a major event. Over-reacting to a small annoyance can magnify the issue and make larger than it actually is. These are the types of reactions that should be kept in check. What is an appropriate response to each obstacle that we encounter? Like many things, the obstacle will determine the response. 

Types of Negative Thinking

Negative thinking is the process of thinking negative rather than positive thoughts. Seemingly, positive thinking requires effort while negative thinking is uninvited and happens easily. 

A person who has been brought up in a happy and positive atmosphere where people value success and self-improvement will have a much easier time thinking positively. One who was brought up in a poor or difficult situation will probably continue to expect difficulties and failure.

Negative thoughts center on the individual, others, and the future. Negative thinking causes problems such as depression, pessimism, and anxiety.

Typical types of negative thinking are described below. 

Overgeneralization: Make a general universal rule from one isolated event

Global labeling: Automatically use disparaging labels to describe yourself

Filtering: Pay attention selectively to the negative, disregarding the positive

Polarized thinking: Group things into absolute, black-and-white categories, assuming that you must be perfect or you are worthless

Self-blame: Persistently blame yourself for things that may not be your fault

Personalization: Assume that everything has something to do with you, negatively comparing yourself to everyone else

Mind-reading: Feel that people don't like you or are angry with you, without any real evidence

Control fallacies: Feel that you have total responsibility for everybody and everything or that you have no control as a helpless victim

Emotional reasoning: Believe that things are the way you feel about them

Until next time ...

 




Sheryl Tuchman, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

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