ABCDE – Consequences

ABCDE for Successful Mind Management: Consequences

1. Identify the Feeling

Illogical or irrational thinking is often felt through its consequence, a negative, unpleasant feelings. Because automatic irrational thinking can be hard to catch, it is easier to pay close attention to your feelings. Feelings tend to last much longer than thoughts and focusing attention on your feelings enables you to track down the thoughts responsible.

Pay close attention to your thinking whenever you experience one of the following feelings: anger, guilt, depression, hopelessness, sadness, loneliness, frustration, nervousness, envy, jealousy, and so on. Use the presence of a feeling you don’t like as a reminder to stop and examine your thinking.

Look for the following footprints to irrational thoughts.

anger

guilt depression, hopelessness

frightened, nervous

jealous, envious

worried, restless

irritable, uptight

Try to use the presence of these feelings as cues or triggers for stopping and looking at your thinking.