MINDSET – T(hought)
Thought
“Thought” includes any activity that may be described as thinking, analysing, reasoning or having ideas and images. It is about how you think and about any ideas and images you may hold. To begin, observe the type of thoughts you are having or using during a given moment of any situation. The list of Words for Thought may help in naming these thoughts. Also, describe or even draw mental images you may have during those moments.
At this dimension as well, it will be useful to categorize your thought activities as either conducive or non-conducive to happiness. Conducive thought would include any thinking that could be objective, rational, logical, broad, unbiased, with perspective, constructive, etc.; non-conducive thought would include anything irrational, narrow, biased, illogical, destructive, etc.
It could also be useful to categorize in this manner images that may come to your mind. We often use images or pictures as representations of how we feel or of what we are thinking about. We also often make images of memories and past experiences, whether good or bad, that contribute to our current experiences—as well as images of what we think about ourselves or others, or of situations. “Symbols” could also be thought about as such representations.
Template Instructions
For a few days or weeks, record on template 3a, during a chosen moment of any situation at least once a day, the type of thinking you are using. Make note of it by listing words or by writing sentences that describe this thinking. Reflect on your observations and on whether your thoughts may be more likely to be conducive or non-conducive to happiness. Underline those that are conducive and circle those that are non-conducive to happiness.
Also pay attention to images that may arise in your mind, both vivid or vague, true-to-life or abstract. Make note of them by drawing such images. Reflect on these images and on whether they may be more likely to be conducive or non-conducive to happiness. Underline those that are conducive and circle those that are non-conducive.
Watch the video instructions on how to fill out the Thought section.
Transcript (.pdf, 119 Kb)4m 37s
If you haven’t already, download the 3a MINDSET template (.pdf, 100 Kb):
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Carry out this exercise until you feel you can easily observe and characterize your thoughts, at any given moment, in several situations. After this is achieved, proceed to the next dimension: Doing.