In Stoicism the ability to act based on our reasoned thoughts is key to living the life we want to live. But what does this mean? Cognitive Behavior Theory gives us some critical insight.
1. Evaluate Your Thoughts: look for cognitive distortions, bias, and irrational thinking. If you find any of these things challenge or dispute the thought.
2. Value Alignment: Check the thoughts to make sure they are inline with your values (you know your core values… right?)
3. Regulate your Emotions: Don’t dismiss your emotions but take steps to regulate them so they can play their role without taking an unwanted starring role.
4. Use Structured Problem Solving: Identify the problem, understand the problem, set goals, Brainstorm solutions, evaluate and choose a solution, implement the solution, check the outcome. Yes it can be very structured, but with time and practice this can become second nature.
5. Consider the Long-term and Short-term perspectives: Be careful not to avoid hard things now that will only get harder later. The easy road might not lead to the outcome you are looking for.
6. Reality Test: Do your actions, decisions, and behaviors stand up to the facts… are you considering all the facts, even the ones you don’t like?
Give it a try and let me know how it goes for you.
