This is an anchor post; its purpose is to begin the discussion on a particular topic.
COGNITIVE DISTORTION #5. JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS: You make a negative interpretation even though there are no definite facts that convincingly support your conclusion.
A. MIND READING: You arbitrarily conclude that someone is reacting negatively to you, and you don’t bother to check this out.
B. FORTUNE TELLING: You anticipate that things will turn out badly, and you feel convinced that your prediction is an already-established fact.
RESOURCES: This is one of ten Cognitive Distortions that can drive us downward into depression identified by Dr. David Burns in works such as Feeling Good and The Feeling Good Handbook. It is mentioned in my handout on PSYCHOLOGICAL TOOLS FOR PERSONAL WHOLENESS, David O. Kueker, Kinmundy/Wesley United Methodist Church in the section entitled 1. THE WAY DOWN.
ABOUT THIS CATEGORY: This category is an ongoing conversation on ideas from books that have blessed me over my long life; new information will be added to posts from time to time, including quotes either from the book or from other’s commends on that book. It’s a personal list and of great variety. I recommend these books because I’ve found them useful, interesting, or fun, or combinations of all three. This blog has no economic benefit if you buy these books, and we are part of no affiliate program that would bring an economic benefit. The recommendation here is a way of saying Thank You to the authors and publishers that have made them available.