It’s time again for another COGNITIVE DISTORTION. Those kind of thoughts that simply make us feel worse about ourself and are not based on any kind of facts. See the index list on the right side of this page for the other ones. Today is
#6 The Binocular Trick
MAGNIFICATION or CATASTROPHIZING
and MINIMIZATION
Here’s something I’m sure many of us do. Like looking through either end of a pair of binoculars, we either magnify and exaggerate the importance of something (such as a mistake we made or maybe someone else’s achievement). We attach so much to our imperfections and mistakes and can do it to the point of an absolute catastrophe.
or ...
we minimize our own accomplishments and great qualities ... “oh it was nothing really” rather than see the effort and work we put into something, rather than feel proud of ourself. Where did we learn to do these things that really can contribute to depression? What purpose does it serve?
Feeling proud of ourself is not about bragging or boasting. It is only knowing that we have done a good job and feel the satisfying reward of it all. With that, we can go on to do it again and again. If we minimize it we may not continue.
And what about those mistakes we make? We don’t have to look at them as failures but rather ask ourself what we have learned from them. How can we do it better or differently the next time? We are human and human beings make mistakes all the time. It takes a little courage and humbleness to permit ourself our mistakes and move on from there.
It is not about who we are as a person. Our worth is not in what we do but the very fact that we exist, in our being here. Simple.
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