Catastrophizing is a type of cognitive distortion. It's a faulty and inaccurate way of thinking that involves imagining the worst possible outcome in a given situation.
Catastrophizing can hold people back in life, work, and relationships and we all do it in some way, and some of us do it a lot more than others.
Understanding the natural psychological processes behind catastrophizing can help us build awareness and learn to create a more balanced and productive view of our futures.
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Sam's newsletter on creativity - Explosive Thinking
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Twitter - @samjamharris
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Chapters
00:00 What is catastrophising
03:00 Build awareness
05:52 Magnifying and minimising
07:15 The problem with imagined details
08:58 The human tendency to invent stories
12:01 Catastrophizing and being diagnosed with ADHD
14:56 Balancing worst and best scenarios
16:02 Social anxiety
17:48 Write a journal
19:10 Alex Hormozi selling gym subscriptions
19:48 Want and don't want chair
22:08 4 step method for mitigating catastrophization
22:13 Step 1 - Awareness
23:20 Step 2 - Challenging the thought
24:03 Step 3 - Imagine the best
24:34 Step 4 - Accept uncertainty
26:19 Catastrophizing is the opposite of Growth mindset
26:40 Therapy & CBT
29:20 Episode Summary
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Om Podcasten
There are a lot of opinions on how to master your mind, but then there’s PSYCHOLOGY.
We’re all stuck with the brain we’re born with, but we aren’t stuck with how we use it.
Learn science-backed answers to make the most of your mind and your life.
CURIOUS?
Growth Mindset Psychology is the "self-help sceptic" podcast for the curious.
Whether you want to improve performance, navigate setbacks, or know who you are.
We find answers to the true science of self-improvement.
So put down the astrology chart and start working with your mind, instead of against it.
With over 8 million downloads and 60,000 monthly listeners, you’re invited to join.
PROCESS
Instead of telling you what to think, we discuss how thinking works.
Armed with a stack of science journals, textbooks and a boatload of curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of the mind.
Why? >>> Success is personal!
You might want to make the most of your neurodiverse strengths, start a business, or simply find more reasons to smile.
Hone your ability for independent thinking and growth with mental models to pursue your definition of success.
HOST
I’m Sam Webster Harris, a lifelong learner with ADHD, a raging curiosity, and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions.
After launching several businesses, travelling the world and nearly dying a few times I concluded that science and Psychology are where it’s at.
What actually makes people happy? What’s the best way to treat a brain? How can I get more done?
Studying the answers we find that changing behaviours requires building mindsets, mental models, and a healthy relationship with failure.
I run the show to help listeners enjoy nutritious content that feeds their minds (and I needed a legitimate excuse to cover for my reading addiction).
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ARCHIVE
Previous guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum.
Past series:
— Psychology vs Stoicism
— Time Management for busy mortals
— Independence and knowing yourself
— Cognitive biases and rational thinking
— Psychology of connection
— Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets