Shahar (PPT),

Burns/Beck (1999), Bandura(1977)

Beliefs as

Self-Fulfilling

Prophecies

We are what we think.

All that we are arises with our thoughts.

With our thoughts, we make our world.

- The Buddha

Beliefs shape reality

Tian Tan, China

34 metres

(112 ft) tall,

weighs 250

metric tons

…is the scientific study of human thought

and the mental processes.

Decision-making

Perception

Language

Memory

Thoughts

Consciousness

Limiting Beliefs & Possibilities

Roger Bannister

What are your beliefs about the Self-help movement?

“Whatever your mind can conceive and believe

it can achieve”

Napoleon Hill

Performance

Consistency

Beliefs as Self-fulfilling Prophecies

Beliefs and Behavior

Albert Bandura: Self Efficacy

“Beliefs in personal efficacy

affect life choices, level of

motivation, quality of

functioning, resilience to

adversity and vulnerability to

stress and depression.”

“People who regard themselves

as highly efficacious act, think,

and feel differently from those

who perceive themselves as

inefficacious. They produce

their own future, rather than

simply foretell it.”

-Albert Bandura

Beliefs and Behavior

Beliefs & Health: Placebo Effect

“You have an 8% chance…

Happier Ch.4-5

Discuss your favorite insights from these readings…

Just for laughs Shrek, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were all having lunch together. Shrek

said, “I have always thought that I'm the strongest man in the world, but how can I be sure?” Angelina Jolie added, “I'm told I'm the most gorgeous of them all, but sometimes I wonder.” Brad Pitt said, “I'm pretty sure I'm the sexiest man alive but I've never had it confirmed either.” They all decided that the best way to find out if their beliefs were true was to ask the famed talking ‘Mirror, Mirror on the Wall’ to confirm for them whether Shrek was the strongest, Angelina Jolie was the most gorgeous and Brad Pitt was the sexiest. They agreed to meet again the next day for lunch to discuss their findings.

The next day Shrek walked up with a smile, “Well, it's true. The mirror says that I am the strongest Man alive.”

Angelina Jolie beamed, “well I know for sure that I'm most gorgeous of them all!”

Then Brad Pitt lifted his sad face and said, “Who the hell is Ed Wohlmuth?”

Self-Esteem Small Group Discussion

O What is self-esteem?

O What factors influence low or high self

esteem?

O How do we build self-esteem for self

or others?

Nathaniel Branden on Self-Esteem

“The level of our self-esteem has profound

consequences for every aspect of our existence: how we

operate in the workplace, how we deal with people, how

high we are likely to rise, how much we are likely to

achieve—and, in the personal realm, with whom we are

likely to fall in love, how we interact with our spouse,

children, and friends, what level of personal happiness

we attain.”

“Self concept is destiny.”

Nathaniel Branden on Self-Esteem

Building Self-Esteem

“The Six Pillars of Self Esteem

Conscious Living(respect for facts/feedback)

Self-acceptance (owning)

Self-responsibility

Self-assertiveness

Purposefulness

Integrity

Optimism and Pessimism (Seligman)

• Interpretation style

– Permanent/temporary

– Pervasive/specific

• Mental/physical health

– immune system

– resilience

– happiness

– longevity

• It can be learned!

Optimizing Optimism

• What about unrealistic beliefs?

– Positive thinking is not enough

– Positive thinking and Optimism defined differently

“False optimism sooner or later means

disillusionment, anger and

hopelessness.”

Abraham Maslow

On Becoming An Optimist

• Face it (what is)

• Imagine it… (visualization)

• Cognitive tools(rational thinking)

• Taking action (Bandura)

Self-Efficacy

Hard Work

Coping

Success

Relating to the future – Studies show that those who view the world with greater …

Optimism- the feeling of realization and acceptance of what is and the construction of a better situation

Hope- the feeling that emerges from the optimistic lens of a better future

Faith- an expression of trust-that if we do what we can, follow our conscience things will turn out as good as they can.

Optimism

Our thoughts create our experience in our everyday lives.

When we…

Question our perception (healthy doubt),

Balance thinking and

Seek information

…healthy thinking patterns result.

If these skills are not formed well…cognitive distortions take over.

Knowing the Enemy:

Disempowering thoughts

distortions

Psychological Wellness

All-or-Nothing thinking

(Perfectionist)

Overgeneralization

Mental Filter

Always

happens to

me!! Never,

never!!!

Yuck good…must be

something negative

here!

The “E” looks a bit

crooked. Heheee!

Disqualifying the

positive

Positive - Neutral

Negative

Magnification

or Minimization

Psychological Wellness

Jumping to Conclusions

(Mind reading/Fortune Telling)

Should

Statements

Labeling

Personalization

Emotional

Reasoning “I know what you’re

thinking” “I’m telling you it will

fail”

“I feel worthless, so it

must be true”

False motivation “Loser, failure, jerk…”

“It’s all my fault”