The User's Guide to the Human Mind: Why Our Brains Make Us Unhappy, Anxious, and Neurotic and What We Can Do about ItYour mind is not built to make you happy; it’s built to help you survive. So far, it’s done a great job! But in the process, it may have developed some bad habits, like avoiding new experiences or scrounging around for problems where none exist. Is it any wonder that worry, bad moods, and self-critical thoughts so often get in the way of enjoying life? Based in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), The User’s Guide to the Human Mind is a road map to the puzzling inner workings of the human mind, replete with exercises for overriding the mind’s natural impulses toward worry, self-criticism, and fear, and helpful tips for acting in the service of your values and emotional well-being—even when your mind has other plans. •Find out how your mind tries to limit your behavior and your potential•Discover how pessimism functions as your mind’s error management system •Learn why you shouldn’t believe everything you think •Overrule your thoughts and feelings and take charge of your mind and your life |
From inside the book
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... hand, was more interested in protecting him from the very real risk of rejection. Luke's goal was romance. His mind's goal was survival. Throughout this book, I'm going to suggest that your mind is almost always looking out for you ...
... hand, rarely end in bloodshed or exile. But the mind sees something different. The experience of a thousand generations who preceded us have shaped our brains to be reactive to certain threats. High on the list are things like ...
... hand, Luke's mind truly believes that she is out of his league, and that rejection is intolerable, then it will do everything in its power to help him avoid it. Cue the anxiety and the vague sense of dread. She's out of your league ...
... hand, reacting with calmness and relaxed defenses is the sucker's bet: nothing to gain and everything to lose if there is danger lurking. Environmental threats are only part of what the mind worries about. The more complicated threats ...
... handson approach. When the mind fears for our safety, it grabs our attention much more aggressively. Anxiety. and. Depression: Ancient. Tools. for. Modern. Times. Sometimes a gentle, intuitive tap on the shoulder simply isn't strong enough ...
Contents
HAPPINESS IS NOT YOUR MINDS | |
THE MINDS SKEWED VIEW AND BIASED | |
VALUES AND ACTION | |
TRUMP CARDS AND DOUBLE STANDARDS | |
Staying Observant and Maintaining Distance | |
QUICK FIXES | |
Managing the Drive for Quick Fixes | |
WELCOME TO YOUR STATE OF MIND | |
Moving Toward Values | |
Increasing Psychological Flexibility for a Lifetime | |
of Waiting for Thoughts and Feelings to Change Take Your Mind with | |
Other editions - View all
The User's Guide to the Human Mind: Why Our Brains Make Us Unhappy, Anxious ... Shawn T. Smith No preview available - 2011 |