Stinking Thinking: Cognitive Distortions

Why is it that we, all too often, are our own worst enemy? Consider it a conflict between the soul and the ego. I relate this to the cartoon trope, where a character’s internal conflict is portrayed by a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. The ego, the little devil in this scenario, has great intentions but horrible execution. Its intention at the core is to get us what we want and protect us from harm, but it can reinforce a pattern of self-defeating thoughts and behaviors. The little ego-devil on our shoulder loves cognitive distortions. These can be defined as often incorrect and exaggerated patterns of thinking, which can distort our very perception of reality. When we listen to these harmful thought patterns, we feed the ego in the short term, weaken our connection to the soul, and stunt growth into our highest self. Below is a list of cognitive distortions to look out for. 

1. Magnification and Minimization: Exaggerating (“I ruined my entire future because of this mistake“) or minimizing the importance of events or achievements.
2. Catastrophizing: Seeing only the worst possible outcomes of a situation. “My life is over. There’s no way things will turn out ok. It’s impossible.”
3. Overgeneralization: Making broad, generic interpretations and assumptions based on a single or few events.”All men are trash.”
4. Magical Thinking: Believing that certain things will influence other, unrelated things. “I’m a good person, so only good things should happen to me.”
5. Personalization: Believing in a responsibility for events which are outside of their control. “Everything is my fault.”
6. Jumping to Conclusions: Interpreting and judging the meaning of a situation with almost absolute certainty, without enough evidence.
7. Mind Reading: Interpreting others thoughts and beliefs without enough evidence.
8. Fortune Telling: Expecting a situation to definitely turn out a certain way, bad or good, without enough evidence.
9. Emotional Reasoning: Assuming that emotions entirely reflect the reality of a situation. “I’m afraid, so they must be out to get me.”
10. Disqualifying the Positive: Recognizing only the negative aspects and ignoring the positive of a person or event. 
11. “Should” Statements: Believing that things “should” be a certain way.
12. All-or-Nothing Thinking: Thinking in total absolutes such as “always”, “never”, “every time”, “every person”, etc. SOURCE

Not to spoil anything, but the video from Bojack Horseman below shows a GREAT example in media of the ways in which cognitive distortions like catastrophizing can creep into our thoughts and behavior.