Manage Mental Filtering: Cost-Benefit Analysis

In psychology, a cost-benefit analysis is a technique used as part of cognitive behavioural therapy.  

On a piece of paper, create two columns for costs and benefits. Think about whether mental filtering benefits you, as well as what it costs you. Write each point down in a column and assign it a value of importance from 1 to 10.

It is likely that filtering costs you far more than it benefits you. The next step in the analysis is to think about alternative thought or behaviour patterns you could employ to see situations more positively.