See the Map of Your Mind
(C MAP OF SELF)
A Fog on the Path Reference Tool
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This is part of the Path of Virtue system.
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If you’ve just explored the Fog on the Path, this is your follow-up reference. It's a tool to help you remember the major distortions and recognize them when they show up in your own thinking.
We all have thoughts that distort reality.
When you can name the distortion, you can begin to clear it.
Each thinking pattern is part of a system called C MAP OF SELF, a name designed to help you “see a map of yourself” more clearly.
To help you remember them, use this simple phrase:
C MAP OF SELF
Explore the Interactive C MAP OF SELF
Practice the mnemonic with the interactive magnifier and review question prompts.
Catastrophizing
Imagining the worst possible outcome, even if it's unlikely.
“If I mess this up, everything will fall apart.”
Mind Reading
Assuming you know what others are thinking...usually something negative.
“He probably thinks I’m a failure.”
All-or-Nothing Thinking
Seeing things in extremes: perfect or terrible, success or failure.
“If I didn’t do it exactly right, I failed.”
Personalization
Believing everything is about you or your fault, even when it’s not.
“He seemed upset...maybe I did something wrong.”
Overgeneralizing
Drawing sweeping conclusions from one event or mistake.
“I always mess things up.”
Filtering
Focusing only on the negatives and ignoring the positives.
“I got one piece of criticism, so the whole day was a loss.”
Should Statements
Putting pressure on yourself with rigid expectations.
“I should be stronger than this.”
Emotional Reasoning
Believing something must be true just because you feel it.
“I feel anxious, so something must be wrong.”
Labeling
Reducing yourself or someone else to a single negative term.
“I’m such a loser.”
Fortune-Telling
Assuming you know how things will turn out...badly.
“There’s no point trying. It won’t work.”