Working with Thoughts

Some researchers say we have 70,000 thoughts a day. What percentage of yours are true and helpful? For all catastrophizing and self-critical thoughts that arise in our heads, here are ways of working with these thoughts that thwart your wellbeing...

Cognitive Restructuring (changing the meaning of thoughts)

Step #1: Thought Record: when struggling record your thoughts here   |   [Form]

Step #2: Label Thinking Errors: for each thought on the form name the thinking error  |   [Anxiety/Depression Errors] [Obsessive Thinking Errors]

Step #3: Cognitive Restructuring Questions: Ask these of your thoughts  |   [Short List] [Long List]

Letting Thoughts Go (shifting attention off of thoughts)

Leaves on the Stream (10 mins)  |  [Listen]

Defustion Techniques by Russ Harris  |   [Handout]

Thank your Mind for your Thoughts by Russ Harris   |  [Video]

Thought Detox (more practices for working with your thoughts)

The Voice Inside Your Head by Michael Singer   |  [Short Book Chapters]

I notice I'm having the thought that... (5 mins)  |  [Listen]

Shift attention from thought to senses... (5 mins)  |  [Listen]

Mindfulness of thought... (5 mins)  |  [Listen]

Is this thought helpful?... (5 mins)  |  [Listen]

Shift from worry to productive problem solving... (5 mins)  |  [Listen]