Regular readers of this blog know I often write about the cognitive distortions described by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, including overgeneralization, mind reading, catastrophizing, personalization, comparisons, shoulds, and labeling/name-calling. Regular readers of this blog do NOT know that I soon will be performing my latest original song (titled “Nobody’s Perfect” and co-written with a Social Work intern at work named Nat) with other musicians, and we’re thinking of calling ourselves “The Cognitive Distortions.”
Last night, my boyfriend Michael and I were experiencing cognitive distortions when we were both making overgeneralizations about human beings. Our cognitive distortions have increased since the last U.S. Presidential election as we both try to make sense of the human behavior described in the media, by cognitively debating and trying to understand what people are really like and why they say what they say and do what they do.
Do you see any cognitive distortions in this part of our discussion last night?
Michael: I think people who say “I believe in him” or “I believe in that” know, on some level, that those things are not true.
Me: Michael, this is the same disagreement we constantly have. I think that a lot of people really believe what they say. How do you know what they really believe? That’s overgeneralization and mind reading.
Michael: How do YOU know what they really believe?
Me: I don’t really know, but I’ve encountered so many people in individual and group therapy who seem to really believe what they say they believe.
Michael: And I’ve encountered thousands of people through my work in the food industry.
Me: THOUSANDS?
Michael: Let me tell you a story that sums up my experience of people. There was this woman I used to work with. One day, somebody asked her if she believed in ghosts. She said, “No.” And then she added, “But I’ve seen one.”
Me (laughing): I’m putting that in tomorrow’s blog.
Do you see any cognitive distortions in today’s photos?
I just searched YouTube for “cognitive distortions” to see if any musical group already has that name. This is what I found:
Feel free to express your cognitions and feelings about Cognitive Distortions, below.
Thanks and appreciation to all who helped me express the cognitive distortions in today’s post and — of course! — thanks and appreciation to YOU.
The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally 
Michael’s ghost story is quite the keeper, Ann.
I also believe I might send the pictured cards to people who are not always funny, hoping to provide a bright moment. People who are funny, they already have their smiles.
You’re a keeper, Mark, and you make me smile.
The Cognitive Distortions is an *awesome* band name! Love Michael’s story. In a similar vein, I’m not sure I believe in aliens but pretty sure I saw a UFO once.
I believe in you, my awesome friend.
The all or nothing thinking. It’s time to be happy in all life’s imperfections. ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)
It’s time to be happy because you’re here!
(๑´ლ`๑)ﾌﾌ♡
Somewhere Dave Barry is saying, “I wish I’d thought of ‘The Cognitive Distortions’ as a band name.”
And I’m laughing at Michael’s experience with someone who found that seeing isn’t always believing.
Somewhere I’m saying I believe you, Chris.
Do we believe in truth or what we perceive to be truth? We live in a culture of lies. This is so because most choose subjective truth over objective truth. A truth that is whatever one makes it to be. And subjective truth IS objective to the relativist individual. How then can we discern objective truth? By what has been produced by a person or thing according to who or what they are, not what they are perceived to be.
For example: A pencil is a pencil if it performs its function. If it helps me write then it is a pencil. A can opener is a can opener if it opens a can. But if I choose to open a can with the pencil or try to write with the can opener then neither is good. As it is with a person. If they do what they say, although you may not agree, then they are being true to their word. If a person says one thing and does another then, they are not true to their word, again, whether you agree with their view or not.
Objective truth, then, is in the reality and function of a thing or person that does not change with time or circumstance. As One once said, who is greater than I: “You will know a tree by its fruit.”
-Alan
Thanks for being true to your word, Alan.
That ghost story sounds like something a blonde would say
That sounds like something you’d say, Joanne.
” The Cognitive Distortions” is a wonderful name! I absolutely love it! And that dialogue between you and Michael is priceless, Ann. I spend a lot of time these days trying to figure out whether people really believe what they say they do, especially in the context of today’s political arena. Do they “believe” what they say, or are they overriding their true beliefs because they interpret a political expediency? Great post. You had me laughing!
Great comment, my wonderful and lovely friend!
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Amazing!!!!⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you!!!!
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