This is an anchor post; its purpose is to begin the discussion on a particular topic.
COGNITIVE DISTORTION #6. MAGNIFICATION (CATASTROPHIZING) OR MINIMIZATION: You exaggerate the importance of things (such as your goof-up or someone else’s achievement), or you inappropriately shrink things until they appear tiny (your own desirable qualities) or the other fellow’s imperfections. This is also called the “binocular trick.”
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.