The Tyranny of thought

[Ronnie_Pickering]

Good piece
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/nancy...b_2998727.html

[Ben]

I generally don't agree that irrational thought patterns and skewed beliefs can be cured by trying to rationalise them - at least not on the simplistic level suggested in the article.

But it very well may work for some, and I hope it does.

[Aelwyn]

I don't think mindfulness is about rationalising or curing, that sounds more like CBT. It's about standing back from the thoughts and emotions and trying to see them in a more objective way. It takes time and practice but I think the idea is that they start to lose their grip over you, so that you don't go round and round in circles, or desperately try to find a solution to every problem. Sometimes solutions may emerge over time and with calm attention.

Having said all that, I do think it can be very hard to deal with some aspects of social anxiety in that way. I know from personal experience that the anxiety can be very sudden and very strong, and if we've been in the habit of reacting to it in a certain way for years/decades, I think we would need to achieve quite a high level of mindfulness to cope with that.

I find it very helpful in a general sort of way, and I do think over time it helps us be less reactive and less stuck in our usual tracks.

[slrrrrp]

Originally Posted by Ben

I generally don't agree that irrational thought patterns and skewed beliefs can be cured by trying to rationalise them

I don't think the article is about rationalising them so much as not getting involved in them and just observing them happening. I'm not sure how easy that is though either.

[slrrrrp]

It's quite weird how humans love thinking but our brains really aren't that good at thinking (compared to, say, processing visual information). In fact most of the brain is set up to help you avoid thinking because thinking is slow and difficult and often you need to react quickly to things.

[limey123]

Hamlet said: "...for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."

[slrrrrp]

Originally Posted by limey123

Hamlet said: "...for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."

He's a clever cigar, that Hamlet.

[Bluebear]

Originally Posted by slrrrrp

I don't think the article is about rationalising them so much as not getting involved in them and just observing them happening. I'm not sure how easy that is though either.

I've found observing them and not getting involved in them can be helpful sometimes..

[Orwell20]

It's a good phrase. I have an aunt who repeats the same depressing stories about her childhood every time I see her. She is 80 now and has been replaying these thought patterns like a CD, over and over again, since she was in her 20s or 30s. It's shocking to see actually.

[limey123]

^ What a waste of a life

[Counterpoint]

Originally Posted by Jimmy77

It's a good phrase. I have an aunt who repeats the same depressing stories about her childhood every time I see her. She is 80 now and has been replaying these thought patterns like a CD, over and over again, since she was in her 20s or 30s. It's shocking to see actually.

I think I’m the same I just don’t bother others with it, but the same sob stories swim around inside my mind sometimes. Did your aunt ever have a family?