I once heard a therapist say "thoughts are not facts." She was a very wise woman. Because thoughts and what we think produce the emotions we feel, there is a tendency to believe that the thoughts we have are true. They are viewed as facts which should not be challenged, argued with or debated. Actually, thoughts are usually the exact opposite. They are more like opinions...... and we all know the cliche they say about opinions...
At any rate, many people have extremely self-destructive thoughts which they come to believe as fact. Take the following thoughts for example, "I look fat in this (opinion)," "She'll never go out with me (opinion)," "I'm such a looser (opinion)," and the list could go on and on. Because these thoughts produce intense emotions it is easy to misconstrue them as being factual truth. The emotions they produce make them seem even more believable. Typically, it's just a matter of time before a person comes to believe that others around them have the same negative view. It's difficult to get past these thoughts, much less challenge them by asking where the evidence is that supports them.
For example, what evidence is their that you are a looser? Where's the evidence that you 'look fat' in this? Or better yet, if you haven't asked a girl out yet then where's the evidence she will say no? Often the answer to these questions is where the process of something called cognitive behavioral therapy begins. Our thoughts often stem from our beliefs. These beliefs influence the way we percieve and view things which leads to the thoughts we have which produces our emotions which influences the way we behave... whew!... It's like a stack of dominoes and when one falls in the right direction the others will come crashing down too.
There is however, one major thing to remember when these hurtful thoughts come through our brains... Thoughts are NOT facts.
At any rate, many people have extremely self-destructive thoughts which they come to believe as fact. Take the following thoughts for example, "I look fat in this (opinion)," "She'll never go out with me (opinion)," "I'm such a looser (opinion)," and the list could go on and on. Because these thoughts produce intense emotions it is easy to misconstrue them as being factual truth. The emotions they produce make them seem even more believable. Typically, it's just a matter of time before a person comes to believe that others around them have the same negative view. It's difficult to get past these thoughts, much less challenge them by asking where the evidence is that supports them.
For example, what evidence is their that you are a looser? Where's the evidence that you 'look fat' in this? Or better yet, if you haven't asked a girl out yet then where's the evidence she will say no? Often the answer to these questions is where the process of something called cognitive behavioral therapy begins. Our thoughts often stem from our beliefs. These beliefs influence the way we percieve and view things which leads to the thoughts we have which produces our emotions which influences the way we behave... whew!... It's like a stack of dominoes and when one falls in the right direction the others will come crashing down too.
There is however, one major thing to remember when these hurtful thoughts come through our brains... Thoughts are NOT facts.
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