I have blogged about ‘negative mental scripting’ before. I referred to “ANTS”, “Automatic Negative Thinking”, a theory that was developed some time ago. While attending a workshop recently my mind took me on a detour (I got mentally distracted) and this is what I came up with:
If “ANTS” are not recognized they can easily turn into “RANTS”; Ridiculous Attitudes [based on] Negative Thinking. However, “RANTS” is not as bad as it can get… if a person allows “RANT” to become a “go to”, it will eventually become a “CAN’T”; Can’t Accept No [for the] Truth.
So how does this way of living life (which is no life at all) get started? Let me identify several operating factors. I mention these in no particular order:
So what is the remedy to all of this happy news? The answer comes in challenging or questioning these negative thoughts.
Here is a short list of self-evaluating questions you can ask yourself when caught in a downward spiral of negativity or unproductive self-talk.
Hope this “RANT” was of some help and encouragement.
If “ANTS” are not recognized they can easily turn into “RANTS”; Ridiculous Attitudes [based on] Negative Thinking. However, “RANTS” is not as bad as it can get… if a person allows “RANT” to become a “go to”, it will eventually become a “CAN’T”; Can’t Accept No [for the] Truth.
So how does this way of living life (which is no life at all) get started? Let me identify several operating factors. I mention these in no particular order:
- Jumping to conclusions, without fact checking.
- Emotional reasoning that says, ‘if I feel this way, I must be right’. Said differently, personal opinion is not always, fact.
- Labeling is a knee-jerk lazy way of living where one reduces either their life or the life of another to a single often negative, narrative. Men are known to compartmentalize and see a person or a behavior in a very shallow way.
- Black and white thinking. This person sees a situation as good or bad, right or wrong or all or nothing. With this approach to life there is no possibility for negotiation. This person has a set of ‘mental bookends’ that has no room for any new thoughts.
- Personalization. A given situation is all about ‘them’. This person takes things personally; blames themselves and often believes, ‘there is nothing I can do about this.’ This orientation to problem solving often results in isolation and catastrophizes the challenge before them.
- The fallacy of fairness is a mental distortion that views challenges on a scale of justice. A situation may have occurred, what did happen was not fair. A person’s actions were, wrong. However, studies in trauma show that it is not the event that is so painful but rather, what the action or injustice created (belief system) within the person.
So what is the remedy to all of this happy news? The answer comes in challenging or questioning these negative thoughts.
Here is a short list of self-evaluating questions you can ask yourself when caught in a downward spiral of negativity or unproductive self-talk.
- Will this thought or belief makes any difference a week from now?
- Am I making any unchecked assumptions (fact checking)?
- Is there another way of looking at this situation?
- If “X” should happen, what are the possible outcomes?
- Is there truly a legitimate reason to lose sleep over this?
- If a friend was sharing my exact same situation with me, what counsel or encouragement would I give them?
- Given the situation, what can I control?
Hope this “RANT” was of some help and encouragement.