PizzaSnake wrote: ↑Sat Jul 27, 2024 1:00 pm
Farfromgeneva wrote: ↑Sat Jul 27, 2024 12:11 pm
PizzaSnake wrote: ↑Sat Jul 27, 2024 11:27 am
Farfromgeneva wrote: ↑Sat Jul 27, 2024 10:33 am
PizzaSnake wrote: ↑Sat Jul 27, 2024 10:09 am
cradleandshoot wrote: ↑Sat Jul 27, 2024 9:31 am
Typical Lax Dad wrote: ↑Sat Jul 27, 2024 9:23 am
old salt wrote: ↑Fri Jul 26, 2024 11:27 pm
jhu72 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 26, 2024 1:36 pm
.... a democratic voter poll has chosen Mark Kelly by a 2:1 margin over the field, as the most desirable VP candidate.
He could be the President if you nominated him.
I figured that’s what you and people like you would say. Kamala could be President also. They picked her instead. Maybe she will give him an opportunity.
Right you are. The Republicans and Democrats have pretty much made up their minds. VP Harris has to win over those
25% of Independent voters. That is her challenge.
This notion of "independents" is bunk. They just don't have the strength of their convictions to allow them to publicly state them. Fence-sitters. Pusillanimous twats. Attention seekers. From what I see of a limited data set (news media interviews), this group is not marked by deep and critical thought.
I think you have less monolithic behavior in the independent cohort and a wider distribution.
The reality is that there are two choices, and unfortunately, they both scuk, to some degree. So, make up your mind. Don't like this reality, then change it. The time to start that is now, but it will have zero impact on the next election. There's a reason that there are two "choices" that look remarkably similar. Nothing like the illusion of freewill and choice to keep passions in check and increase predictability and continuity.
You have no freewill. Every decision you "make" has been pre-determined by the course of your entire life, the things you learned, the experiences you've had, the people you've met, the lessons you've learned. Most everything we do is extremely predictable given our histories. My favorite part of some religions is this inversion and suggestion that we do have freewill. We don't, at least not in meaningful and determinative ways. Evidently, doublespeak and cognitive dissonance are indeed longstanding human behaviors.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/83817782-determined
Some people find hallucinogens and psychedelics compelling because they allow for a momentary opportunity to escape our carefully crafted personal reality (we're all doing a lifetime "stretch" in solitary), and some, with delicate and fragile senses of self, find them anathema. The more interesting traditions are those that define enlightenment as a glimpse of the larger reality that exists outside the bounds of our prisons, i.e. Buddhism. All of the Abrahamic faiths are just crutches for the weak-minded or bonds for those with inclinations towards self-direction. The iconoclast is reviled, and the adherent is glorified.
As one might imagine, this sort of freedom is not encouraged by a system predicated upon our predictability and often, no, nearly always, eradicated, leaf, stem and root. Patriarchies are preferred because men tend to be stupid and easily manipulated, making social control easier given the high incidence of the Dunning-Kruger effect.
Try this guy out
https://iep.utm.edu/husspemb/
"However, Husserl’s main focus is
epistemological, and for him, lived embodiment is not only a means of practical action, but an essential part of the deep structure of all knowing."
Not "an essential part of the deep structure of all knowing;" the only one available to us. Omphaloskepsis, while amusing and endlessly diverting, is, unfortunately, devoid of any possibility of discerning any objective reality. By observing others actions and words, we can infer hidden truths much as exoplanets can be inferred by orbital perturbations of distant celestial objects.
Most religions rest on some very sketchy epistemology. Those Jesuits are slippery with their assertion of ineffability. Well, that leaves us where, exactly? Taking their word and the whole of the Abrahamic tradition at face value? Nope. I'll pass.
The problem with an examined life and deep, critical thought is that most are woefully ill-equipped for it. So, what for them? Often, being led astray by those individuals and organizations with bad intent. To be fair, many in those hierarchies are also a little on the dull side, and there is no malice aforethought, just the supreme surety of ignorance and gullibility. Reminds me of the practice of female genital mutilation -- usually performed upon its victims by the women of the community. Awe inspiring cognitive dissonance, really.
Can’t sit and watch rent seeking behavior forever while employing self restraint it’s not a human condition. Husserl’s phenomenology is a predecessor to existentialism. I never cared for the subjectiveness related to it which I think is your argument but it speaks to the behavior of the pious I think.
But we all fail numerous of the ten major cognitive distortions daily. Betbyou firm yourself guilty of one or more of these often like I do.
10 Cognitive Distortions That Can Cause Negative Thinking
Recognizing these thought patterns can help you overcome them
Woman looking in mirror that has a distorted reflection of herself
Verywell / Nez Riaz
Cognitive distortions are negative or irrational patterns of thinking. These negative thought patterns can play a role in diminishing your motivation, lowering your self-esteem, and contributing to problems like anxiety, depression, and substance use.
This article discusses different cognitive distortions and how they work. It also discusses hypothetical examples to show how this kind of thinking affects behavior and what you can do to help overcome these distortions.
All-or-Nothing Thinking
All-or-nothing thinking is also known as black-and-white thinking or polarized thinking. This type of thinking involves viewing things in absolute terms: Situations are always black or white, everything or nothing, good or bad, success or failure.1
An example of all-or-nothing thinking is dwelling on mistakes and assuming you will never be able to do well, instead of acknowledging the error and trying to move past it.
One way to overtime this cognitive distortion is to recognize that success and progress are not all-or-nothing concepts. By addressing this type of thinking and replacing self-defeating thoughts, you can feel better about your progress and recognize your strengths.
Overgeneralization
Overgeneralization happens when you make a rule after a single event or a series of coincidences.2 The words "always" or "never" frequently appear in the sentence. Because you have experience with one event playing out a certain way, you assume that all future events will have the same outcome.
For example, imagine that you made a suggestion about a work project that wasn't adopted in the final work. You might overgeneralize this and assume that no one at work ever listens to you or takes you seriously.
One way to combat overgeneralization is to focus on using realistic language. Instead of saying, "I always do that!," say something such as, "That happens sometimes, but I'll try to do better next time."
Mental Filters
A mental filter is the opposite of overgeneralization, but with the same negative outcome.3 Instead of taking one small event and generalizing it inappropriately, the mental filter takes one small event and focuses on it exclusively, filtering out anything else.
For example, Nathan focuses on all of the negative or hurtful things that his partner has said or done in their relationship, but he filters all the kind and thoughtful things his partner does. This thinking contributes to feelings of negativity about his partner and their relationship.
Journaling is one strategy that might help overcome mental filtering. Make an effort to intentionally shift your focus from the negative and look for more neutral or positive aspects of a situation.
Discounting the Positive
Discounting the positive is a cognitive distortion that involves ignoring or invalidating good things that have happened to you.4 It is similar to mental filtering, but instead of simply ignoring the positives, you are actively rejecting them.
For example, Joel completes a project and receives an award for his outstanding work. Rather than feeling proud of his achievement, he attributes it to pure luck that has nothing to do with his talent and effort.
One way to overcome this cognitive distortion is to reframe how you attribute events. Instead of seeing positive outcomes as flukes, focus on noticing how your own strengths, skills, and efforts contributed to the outcome.
By having more faith in your abilities, you'll feel more empowered and less likely to experience learned helplessness, a phenomenon where people feel that they have no control over the outcome.
Jumping to Conclusions
There are two ways of jumping to conclusions:
Mind reading: When you think someone is going to react in a particular way, or you believe someone is thinking things that they aren't
Fortune telling: When you predict events will unfold in a particular way, often to avoid trying something difficult
For example, Jamie believes that he cannot stand life without heroin. Such beliefs hold him back from getting the treatment and help that he needs to successfully recover from substance use.
To overcome this cognitive distortion, take a moment to consider the facts before you make a decisions. Ask questions and challenge your initial assumptions.
Magnification
Magnification is exaggerating the importance of shortcomings and problems while minimizing the importance of desirable qualities. Similar to mental filtering and discounting the positive, this cognitive distortion involves magnifying your negative qualities while minimizing your positive ones.
For example, when something bad happens, you see this as "proof" of your own failures. But when good things happen, you minimize their importance. For example, a person addicted to pain medication might magnify the importance of eliminating all pain and exaggerate how unbearable their pain is.
To overcome magnification, focus on learning how to identify these thoughts and intentionally replacing them with more helpful, realistic ways of thinking.
Emotional Reasoning
Emotional reasoning is a way of judging yourself or your circumstances based on your emotions. This type of reasoning assumes that because you are experiencing a negative emotion, it must accurately reflect reality. If you feel experience feelings of guilt, for example, emotional reasoning would lead you to conclude that you are a bad person.
For instance, Jenna used emotional reasoning to conclude that she was a worthless person, which in turn led to binge eating.
While research has found that this distortion is common in people who have anxiety and depression, it is actually a very common way of thinking that many people engage in.5 Cognitive behavior therapy can help people recognize the signs of emotional reasoning and realize that feelings are not facts.
"Should" Statements
"Should" statements involve always thinking about things that you think you "should" or "must" do. These types of statements can make you feel worried or anxious. They can also cause you to experience guilt or a sense of failure. Because you always think you "should" be doing something, you end up feeling as if you are constantly failing.
An example: Cheryl thinks she should be able to play a song on her violin without making any mistakes. When she does make mistakes, she feels angry and upset with herself. As a result, she starts to avoid practicing her violin.
When you recognize yourself engaging in this cognitive distortion, focus on practicing self-compassion. Replace these statements with more realistic ones, and work on accepting yourself for who you are rather than who you think you should be.
Labeling
Labeling is a cognitive distortion that involves making a judgment about yourself or someone else as a person, rather than seeing the behavior as something the person did that doesn't define them as an individual.
For example, you might label yourself as a failure. You can also label other people as well. You might decide that someone is a jerk because of one interaction and continue to judge them in all future interactions through that lens with no room for redemption.
You can combat labeling by challenging the accuracy of your assumptions. Look for evidence that counters your negative thoughts. Remind yourself of the difference between opinions and facts.
Press Play for Advice On How to Be Less Judgmental
Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast, shares how you can learn to be less judgmental. Click below to listen now.
Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts
Personalization and Blame
Personalization and blame is a cognitive distortion whereby you entirely blame yourself, or someone else, for a situation that, in reality, involved many factors that were out of your control.
For example, Anna blamed herself for her daughter's bad grade in school. Instead of trying to find out why her daughter is struggling and exploring ways to help, Anna assumes it is a sign that she is a bad mother.
When you find yourself engaging in this cognitive distortion, make a conscious effort to consider other factors that might have played a role in the situation. Instead of blaming yourself for something that happened, consider external factors or other people's actions that might have also been contributing factors.
Coping With Cognitive Distortions
Once you recognize that you are experiencing cognitive distortions, there are steps you can take to change these ways of thinking. Getting help is important, because these distorted thought patterns can seriously affect mental health and well-being. To change cognitive distortions:
Become More Aware of Your Thoughts
Try to notice the thoughts that contribute to feelings of anxiety, negativity, or depression. Practices such as journaling and mindfulness may help you build better awareness of your own thoughts.
Recognize the Effect of Cognitive Distortions
Cognitive distortions can contribute to poor decisions making, but they can also play a significant role in the onset and maintenance of mental illness and other issues. Such distortions are associated with the following:
Addiction
Anxiety, fear, and panic
Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
Depression
Feelings of hopelessness
Increased risk of suicidal thinking6
Low self-esteem
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)7
Poor self-efficacy
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)8
Challenge Your Thoughts
As you recognize that distorted thoughts cause problems, it is essential to work to change them actively. It may be uncomfortable, particularly at first, but work on challenging yourself. Is there evidence that contradicts your thoughts? Are there more helpful ways of thinking about a situation?