Effective Beliefs and Choices

MOST times I have to use a bit of PMA – Push My Ass, somehow

A bit of ACTION creates a bit of motivation

A bit of PRACTICE to develop a bit of a habit of my conscious choice

Get a bit rid of an unhelpful idea like a bit of rock out of my rowboat.

E of ABCDE tool = Effective new belief

Planning, Patience, Practice, Persistence is needed in an endeavour I choose

Effective belief and choice

Healthy Belief

Helpful Belief

Healthy Risk Taking

Have a plan

Work on LFT – Lowered Frustration Threshold - make it HFT - a bit Higher Frustration Threshold

A new belief doesn't have to be radically different than the old - could just be a toned down more realistic version of it ("this is unpleasant and I can stand it” versus "this is awful and I can’t stand it.")

DO a bit better now, feel a bit better later

New belief will not be an old friend, it may even be uncomfortable – like a NEW SHOE. Know that it is what is needed and that it will look and serve me better, and it needs to be “worn in” a little bit over time.

My old belief was cobbled together from all kinds of absurd sources - school, pop-culture, parent, etc... This time around maybe take some time to pick or choose and carefully consider what is a bit more helpful to believe - then set out to believe it.

I would “prefer" to do well - “Prefer” rather than “demand”

B = Story I tell myself about the A

I REACT to the B, rather than the A

C = B     C ≠ A

It is a thought of mine which tends to cause stress = belief-based stress

D – where is evidence that the belief B is real? Where is evidence that the belief B is helping me?

E – Effective Belief, rather than happening “spontaneously,” are what I choose my life to look like and how I am setting myself up to be.

I put in some effort to create my own, new, healthy thought.

I DO a bit better now, to FEEL a bit better later.

Cognitive Dissonance – gap between what I cognitively accept and when I emotionally feel better because of it. An emotion needs to “catch up.”

I am a fallible human being - perfection is not even on my radar. :)

ABCDEF = a bit of a FEELING that is helpful, or desirable, or constructive.

ABCDEFG = GOAL is to “cope” in a constructive, or participative way. To participate a bit more fully. A bit of PROGRESS, rather than a bit of perfection!

ABCDEFGH = HAPPINESS because I am doing what I can do to control a thought of mine, which is where a bit of my true power exists. Unable to determine an outcome from other people, places and things. May have a little influence, but the determination is “in the hands of the Gods.” I only have control over HOW I think and WHAT I do.

I do my bit better work with ME. It is the most important tool I have.