Last week we talked about recognizing distorted thought patterns, like “overgeneralization” or “all-or-nothing thinking.” Did you notice any as you went through your week?
Now that you know how to spot these inaccurate thoughts, the next step is to turn them into more truthful ones. Here are a few questions to ask yourself.
- Is this something the Savior would want me to think?
- Am I considering all the possible information?
- What would I tell my best friend if they said they were having these same thoughts?
Next time you notice a distorted thought, write it down. Then cross it out and write a statement that is more accurate instead. For example:
I didn’t get the job I applied for, so obviously I’ll never get hired.
True, I didn’t get this job. But more job opportunities will come along. I can always try again.
After writing these more accurate statements for a few days, you may get to a point where your brain gets better at stopping the distorted thoughts and immediately replacing them with the more truthful thoughts instead. That would be great!
We hope you think plenty of kind thoughts about yourself today. You are a child of God. He loves you, and so does our Gospel Living team!
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Note: This is part of an ongoing series about emotional resilience, adapted from this manual.