9. Externalizing. | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

10 Thinking Traps We All Face

You are your worst critic.

68
https://unsplash.com/photos/swIiaSf5qhc
Riccardo Mion via Unsplash

The way we think and how we feel can dramatically affect our disposition in life. Although we often don't realize it, our mood has a powerful impact on our mindset in any given situation. Thinking traps are negative automatic thoughts that are hard to shake off and can make life even more complicated than it already is. Here are 10 thinking traps we all face.

1. All or nothing thinking.

The key words: "always" and "never" which is all or nothing reasoning.

2. Predicting the future in a negative way.

When you have a feeling "something bad is going down," and convince yourself of it.

3. Minimizing the significance of your accomplishments.

Decreases self-confidence and prevents you from celebrating your accomplishments.

4. Over-generalization.

Creates unnecessary anxiety and prediction of the future.

5. Jumping to conclusions.

Responding impulsively to situations before you have full information.

6. Tunnel vision.

Inability to see beyond a certain perspective or consider a different point of view.

7. Magnifying.

Thinking the worst possible outcome is the only outcome possible. We exaggerate the importance of negative events.

8. Personalization.

Reflex tendency to attribute problems to one's own doing.

9. Externalizing.

Opposite of personalizing: Problems are never our fault.

10. Mindreading.

You assume what others are thinking and feeling about you without having any concrete evidence to suggest so.

"We are dying from overthinking. We are slowly killing ourselves by thinking about everything. Think. Think. Think. You can never trust the human mind anyway. It's a death trap." – Anthony Hopkins
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Lifestyle

Pros And Cons Of Having A Birthday Near The Holidays

The truth of what it is like having a birthday around the holiday season.

2758
Christmas decoration
Flickr

It's the most wonderful time of the year!! But for some people, including myself and my Dad, it can have its ups and downs when it comes to having a birthday near and around the holiday season. I personally share a birthday with my Dad two days before Christmas. Yes, Christmas Eve Eve is our birthday. Here are a few pros and cons for having a birthday near the holidays.

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas Tree Lights
Pixabay

It is that time of year again. Christmastime. It is one of my favorite seasons for a myriad of reasons. Here are just a few reasons why I love Christmas. This list is in no order of importance.

1. The Christmas decorations

I am that person who will decorate directly after Thanksgiving is over. This year, my roommates and I put the tree up in our apartment before we even left for Thanksgiving break. It is a great stress reliever for me to just sit in my living room and work on the huge amount of work I have before the semester is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl with santa hat
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

'Tis the season to be jolly folks, and if you're anything like me, then at the stroke of midnight on Halloween your home went from wicked to winter

Keep Reading...Show less
mistake
Project Eve

Mistakes are something we all make, no matter how old we get. Most of the time, the mistakes we made are little and sometimes due to something out of our control. Yet, there are mistakes that are bigger than others. Personally, I have mistakes that I wish I could go back and undo. Here they are:

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

5 Things To Do That Are Better Than Writing A Paper

Don't waste your time trying to write that paper when there are so many more interesting things you could be doing.

13540
computer keyboard
Unsplash

Writing a paper is never fun and is rarely rewarding. The writer's block, the page requirement, be specific, but don’t summarize, make sure you fixed any grammatical errors, did you even use spellcheck? and analyze, analyze, analyze.

Papers can be a major pain. They take up so much time and effort that by the end of the process you hate yourself and you hate the professor for making life so difficult. Questions of your existence start roaming in your mind. Am I even cut out for college if I can’t write a single paper? Am I even capable of taking care of myself if I lack the energy to open my laptop and start typing?

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments