Counterfactual Thinking
There are two types of counterfactual thinking: upward and downward counterfactual thinking.
- Upward counterfactual thinking: it happens whenever we look back at a scenario and ask the "what if" questions in terms of how our life could have turned out better.
- Downward counterfactual thinking: this is naturally the opposite of upward counterfactual thinking and it happens when we think about how things could have been worse.
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The Impacts of Counterfactual Thinking
- Upward counterfactual thinking is linked with depression.
- Downward counterfactual thinkers use their negative feelings as their motivation to become productive and better their current situations.
- Downward counterfactual thinking can improve romantic relationships, althoug...
Disappointed
We can ask ourselves five questions when faced with disappointment, that will help us to cope better with it:
- Why am I disappointed?
- What could I have done to prevent it?
- How will I perceive this disappointment in five years?
- When I look back after five yea...
Backward Thinking
- Whenever we try to achieve a goal, solve problems, predict what is likely to happen or likely to be true or false, we should think things through backwards.
- Avoid what causes the opposite of what you want to achieve.
- Thinking backw...
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