The Little Things
April 8, 2013

There’s an interesting connection between our thoughts, our feelings, and our behaviors. In a nutshell, our thoughts influence our feelings which influence our behavior. We have thoughts about our behavior, and the cycle continues. It’s like a tiny wheel of activity that is constantly going on in each of our heads. That’s why cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown via hundreds (thousands?) of studies throughout the years to be the most effective therapy for a number of issues (OCD, depression, anxiety, etc…). (a side note: CBT is NOT the only type of therapy that is effective). The process of CBT involves looking at our thoughts and feelings about a situation or person, identifying what is negative or distorted, challenging these things, and changing them.

If we can change our natural thought process to something that more accurately lines up with reality, our emotions and behaviors get to a more realistic and positive place. However, this takes some time, work, and effort to get to know this cycle in our lives.

This week, my challenge for you is to work on identifying the thought, feeling, behavior cycle in your life. Look at how this cycle influences you, both positively and negatively. Observe the outcomes of this cycle. We can’t change what we don’t know, so this week, get to know the cycle!

Now it’s your turn to share! How do your thoughts influence how you feel? How do thoughts influence behavior? 

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One response to “Mental Health Monday: Thoughts, Feelings, Behaviors”

  1. kruzmeister says:
    April 8, 2013 at 2:50 am

    CBT has been amazing in helping me to build better coping strategies for when my illness (bipolar) takes hold. I have found ACT and mindfulness invaluable! – Simone