As people, we tend to think the way we think, and rarely do we spend time wondering why we think that way or how we got to think in that perspective. These strings of thoughts we have, our thought patterns, begin to develop from the time we are infants and change and adapt as we go through experiences and emotions in childhood.
Thought patterns deal with everything from how we bounce back from difficult situations to how we reason with our emotions. Therefore, these have a big impact on how we feel about ourselves, our lives, and everything in between.
You may not even realize you have thought patterns, but you do. One many people have thought about during their life is jumping to conclusions. The “if __, then___.” Or “since they don’t ____, they must feel ____”. We can see patterns such as these in our daily lives, and it can be overwhelming and mentally tiring going through life without realizing why our minds can go to the extreme and it spill over into our emotions.
A step in understanding our thought patterns is identifying automatic thoughts, which are part of understanding and changing negative thought patterns. Automatic thoughts are what they sound like… thoughts that come to us without consciously realizing it. For example, thinking “I’m never going to be good enough for that” or “this day started off bad so it is going to be bad all day” are negative, impactful thoughts that we do not always recognize we are having. Then since we do not realize these thoughts coming in, we aren’t able to see how much of an impact they have on our mood and view of the world.
When automatic thoughts stay negative, it can keep you in a negative mindset and wonder why you’re not happy. The good news is that these thought patterns can be changed when you consciously analyze thoughts. Working on identifying those automatic thought patterns and changing them to be more positive can help increase happiness and self-esteem. “I’m never going to be good enough for that” can instead look like “I may not be good enough for that yet. But with work I think I can get there”. Being able to change negative thought patterns and negative automatic thoughts can help improve your view of yourself and the world leading to a better quality of life.
Mindful Minute by Brigid Raftery, RMHCI. with Counseling Associates of America, is dedicated to addressing mental health care and support for both individuals and couples. americascounselors.com/.
