Common Thinking Errors Series: Ignoring the Good
Thinking errors, also known as cognitive distortions, are irrational beliefs that impact how we feel and behave, and are a common topic in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Thinkin errors tend to make life more difficult than it needs to be, so being aware of these thoughts can help us catch them and challenge them to a better quality of life.
Overcoming the Habit of Ignoring the Good
The thinking error that will be focused on in this blog is “ignoring the good”. When ignoring the good, people tend to focus on the negative and dismiss it when the positives occur. Ignoring the good can be common, especially if someone tends to experience many challenges in their life, but it is important to give the positive a chance.
Ignoring the good can look like this: You are talking with a group of friends, and you say one joke that did not land well but had 10 other jokes that made everyone laugh. You go home and only think about how the one joke did not work out, and ruminate on that all night although you also had so much GOOD happen, too! Even if you are worried about the others focusing on that one joke that didn’t land, then they would be ignoring the good as well! That would be an error on everyone’s part.
Ignoring the good is common for so many people, so it is important to give yourself grace once you start to recognize when that is happening. When you start to realize that you are ignoring positive aspects in your life, try your best to consider what else has gone well, and why that is important to you. I hope you find that it leaves you feeling a bit better about whatever situation may have occurred.
How Ignoring the Good Relates to All-or-Nothing Thinking
Some thinking errors can look like other thinking errors. Ignoring the good occurs when we do not consider the positives that happen in our lives. This could also look like “all or nothing thinking”. All-or-nothing thinking (or black-and-white thinking) disregards anything in between or any aspect of life. Ignoring the good is related to not being able to see the positives due to the negatives. This can be confusing, but as you continue learning, you will get the hang of it. The next blog in this series will be about all-or-nothing thinking in a more in-depth manner.
Thinking errors are not our fault, and we owe it to ourselves to recognize when they are happening so that we can change them and stop letting those thoughts distract us from our peace and happiness. You are allowed to see the good in the world and in yourself. It will take time, and practice, so don’t give up. You deserve peace and happiness.
If these thoughts become too difficult to manage and are impacting your quality of life, please click the button below. The Mental Wellness Center has clinicians that are happy to help work through the difficult thoughts, feelings, and behaviors you may be experiencing.