One of the most important insights from psychology is that the events and situations in our lives do not directly lead to our emotions and reactions. Instead, the events and situations that happen in our lives are filtered through our thoughts, and these thoughts lead to our emotions and reactions. …
Not too long ago, I woke up in the middle of the night, feeling anxious. I was thinking about a work project that was due in a couple of weeks. I was nervous about it, and it was on my mind as I tried to get back to sleep. Unfortunately, …
I was working through an issue with my girlfriend the other day, and I was struggling. The issue itself wasn’t a huge deal, but my reaction felt really painful. I was getting triggered, and the issue we were dealing with was bringing up some difficult struggles from my past. I …
This post is Part 3 in a 4-part blog series on changing our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. (If you missed the previous posts, you can find Part 1 here.) Changing behaviors or doing something different can feel unnatural. For example, if you are feeling sad or depressed, it probably feels …
This post is Part 1 in a 4-part blog series on changing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. One popular kind of counseling is called cognitive-behavioral therapy. It’s based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all connected and influence one another. For example, if we are feeling sad …