Hardwiring Logic

“The world we have made is a result of the level of thinking we have done thus far creates problems we cannot solve at the same level of thinking at which we created them”.

                                                                                                                                 ~ Einstein

It’s simple psychology…What we believe leads us to feel the way we feel emotionally and to behave the way we do physically. We are our thoughts…our thoughts are us.  If the structure of thought remains unchanged, we will always end up re-creating the same universe, the same struggles, and the same life.

Since this is the case, there is a certain pattern of reasoning that must be followed in order to overcome behaviors that are not in our best interest.  

 

Accountability/Awareness/Reason

-              Responsible (you’re not a victim)

-              Internal dialogue (Positive or negative?)

-              Rational / Irrational (reason or emotion?)

 

Beliefs/Thoughts/Actions

Beliefs Þ Actions Þ Consequences (Behavior…positive or negative)

These steps create habits.  Habits form as a consequence of reinforcement (positive and negative).

 “At first you create your habits, and then your habits create you.”

 

Why is rational thinking so important?

Because what you think and believe about a situation leads you to feel emotionally and to behave the way you do physically.

 “Men are disturbed not by events, but by their opinions about events”

                                                                                                               ~ Epictetus

For example, if you think and believe you can’t have certain foods, you will most likely make yourself anxious about food.  In the presence of food you will feel very uncomfortable and create a sense of panic for yourself.

This panic is called “Anticipatory Anxiety” where one’s fear of a certain event is precisely what brings about that event, e.g. overeating, poor test-taking or performance, insomnia, stuttering, etc.

 

Anticipatory anxiety consists of two flawed thought processes:

-              Hyper-reflections: excessive thinking about the situation

-              Hyper-intention: trying too hard to avoid the situation

The common treatment for this issue involves changing one’s meaningful attachment to the situation by actually inviting it (attacking it!).  This will usually create a shift in attitude which undercuts the anticipatory anxiety.

 "Grasping at things can only yield one of two results: Either the thing you are grasping at disappears, or you yourself disappear.  It is only a matter of which occurs first."

                                                                                           ~ Goenka

 For most of us, thinking rationally does not happen automatically.  You must practice applying the rational thinking to each of your thoughts.  A simple beginning exercise would be for you to record a few examples of thoughts that you would like to change.  Take this list and out to the side write rational or irrational.  This simple exercise will hardwire a new pattern of thinking and problem solving that will lead to a life of less pain.

Remember, what you think and believe leads you to feel the way you feel emotionally and to behave the way you do physically.  Rational thoughts are always based on facts.  Through this practice you might begin to notice a pattern to your thinking which creates your perception.  These patterns are what create our belief system.

 Ask yourself these questions:

-              Are my thoughts based on facts?

-              Are my thoughts healthy for me and my family?

-              Will my thoughts help me achieve my short-term and long-term goals?

-              Will my thoughts help me feel the way I want to feel emotionally?

 

“If I change my mind, will I change my choices?  If I change my choices will my life change?  Why can’t I change what I’m addicted to?  When I change my addiction, what will I lose that I am chemically attached to?  Maybe I don’t want to lose what I’m chemically attached to because I may have to experience the withdrawal from that.  Hence the human drama.”

                                                                                                      ~ What the bleep do we know?