Thinking can be painful. Why so many of us prefer to think less about what matters and enjoy less hurtful pursuits. At the same time, not thinking about some things is a one street to the land of regrets. However, thinking is an acquired ability and can always be improved.
Emotional Fitness Training Tips
Tip one: See regret as a sign something needs to be thought about more carefully. Clearly when safety is involved careful thought works best. Not at all necessary when laughing at harmless jokes.
Tip two: Strengthen your self-soothing skills. Start with learning Calming Breath. Breath in slowly to a count of five, hold your breathe for another count of five, breathe out slowly while smiling softly, say a quiet “Thank you” and go on. Calming Breath is a pause that reminds you to think. When you need more time to think, turn Calming Breath into a One Minute Meditation, by breathing normally, and observing your breath and your thoughts, then when you are ready to go on take another Calming Breath.
Tip three: Think aloud. When trying to sort out a problem talking yourself through what is happening leads to clearer thinking. Afraid of being overheard and thought demented? Silently mouthing the words works as well as saying them aloud.
Tip four: Learn all the ways thinking can get twisted. Three common logical fallacies are: Emotional Reasoning – I feel it so it is real, true or right. Hasty generalizations – She once said something in support of the Democrats, therefore s/he must be a leftist. Jumping on the Band Wagon – my friends think this way, therefore our thoughts are real, true, and right. Learn about more logical fallacies and laugh a bit at the same time by visiting the Fallacy Ref
Tip five: look for logical fallacies when you are arguing with some one. Look for yours, look for theirs.
Tip six: Look for how ads use logical fallacies to get you to buy, buy, and buy.
Tip seven: When you think a situation has been thought through thoroughly say “And?” Do this when you think your thinking has reached an end. Do this when you think someone else’s thinking has reached an end.
Thank you and stay strong: Practice Kindness right now by liking, commenting, or sharing this and EFT posts. Be even kinder by visiting my Amazon’s Author Page and buying one of my books, most cost less than a latte or a movie.
Katherine
Links of Interest
Emotional Intelligence (en.wikipedia.org)
- The five components of emotional Intelligence (www.sonoma.edu)
- An Emotional Fitness Program for Parents (amazon.com)
- Easy Emotional Fitness Exercises.
Disclaimer one: Emotional Fitness Training is not therapy. Even the most learned researchers and therapists quarrel about much. Take their advice and mine carefully. Don’t just listen to your heart, but also think; don’t just think, listen to your heart. Heart and head working together increase the odds you will find useful advice amid all the promises and hopes pushed at you be others. As others have noted, take what seems useful, leave the rest.
Disclaimer two: Forgive my grammatical errors If you need perfect posts, you will not find them here; I will understand if you don’t follow, like or share what like me. Not only am I dealing with an aging brain, but all of my life I have been plagued by dysgraphia–a learning disability, Some of my posts might be peppered with bad spelling, poor punctuation, and worse words that make no sense. If you want to hang in with me, thank you; you are kind. If a post doesn’t make sense or bugs you too much, stop reading, I will understand.