Sometimes we don't distinguish thoughts from perceptions:

**Posts:** 3267 · by **sakoz** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 4:57 pm

It's 'as if' we assume our thoughts 'are' perceptions; without recognizing making the assumption. (That's a 'slippery slope').
"All creatures react to perceptions". (hard-wired to do so for safety and survival). We utilize that fact knowingly or unknowingly. The concomitant images of thoughts are perceived.
Believed images are equivalent to perceptions, in effect. (It behooves us to recognize that).
Think of a thought that disturbs you; then think of a thought that evokes the emotion of 'happy'.
When you recognize the role/effect of thoughts, (like you just did in reacting to your thoughts) you can choose the thoughts, (like you just did), you 'want' to experience instead of by default of not choosing.
How many times a day do your react to UNRECOGNIZED thoughts?
How many times a day do you react to other peoples thoughts; they convey to you?

**Posts:** 12131 · by **Richard@DecisionSkills** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 5:09 pm

sakoz wrote:Think of a thought that disturbs you; then think of a thought that evokes the emotion of 'happy'.
When you recognize the role/effect of thoughts,

Exactly! Parents all around the world teach their children to recognize the role/effect of thoughts by using the rhyme, "Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me."

**Posts:** 3267 · by **sakoz** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 5:11 pm

oops; I forgot to heed Matthew 7:6; quote; "....do not cast pearls before swine...".

**Posts:** 12131 · by **Richard@DecisionSkills** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 5:21 pm

sakoz wrote:oops; I forgot to heed Matthew 7:6; quote; "....do not cast pearls before swine...".

An appropriate troll comment, but no worries. I know that "Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me."

**Posts:** 1299 · by **bert_ernie** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 6:08 pm

deja vu

**Posts:** 2959 · by **quietvoice** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 6:52 pm

sakoz wrote:It's 'as if' we assume our thoughts 'are' perceptions; without recognizing making the assumption. (That's a 'slippery slope').
"All creatures react to perceptions". (hard-wired to do so for safety and survival). We utilize that fact knowingly or unknowingly. The concomitant images of thoughts are perceived.
Believed images are equivalent to perceptions, in effect. (It behooves us to recognize that).
Think of a thought that disturbs you; then think of a thought that evokes the emotion of 'happy'.
When you recognize the role/effect of thoughts, (like you just did in reacting to your thoughts) you can choose the thoughts, (like you just did), you 'want' to experience instead of by default of not choosing.
How many times a day do your react to UNRECOGNIZED thoughts?
How many times a day do you react to other peoples thoughts; they convey to you?

No kidding?

**Posts:** 3267 · by **sakoz** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 7:08 pm

Yes, no kidding, your in for a big surprise when you finally understand that, IF you ever do.

**Posts:** 2959 · by **quietvoice** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 7:17 pm

sakoz wrote:Yes, no kidding, your in for a big surprise when you finally understand that, IF you ever do.

Love you, too.

**Posts:** 12131 · by **Richard@DecisionSkills** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 7:49 pm

sakoz wrote:Yes, no kidding,

Sakoz, don't react to your dysfunctional emotions. Once you recognize you will be better off. All we can do is keep repeating your message. They may never understand.

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me" and it is not okay.

**Posts:** 3267 · by **sakoz** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 10:50 pm

quietvoice wrote:
sakoz wrote:It's 'as if' we assume our thoughts 'are' perceptions; without recognizing making the assumption. (That's a 'slippery slope').
"All creatures react to perceptions". (hard-wired to do so for safety and survival). We utilize that fact knowingly or unknowingly. The concomitant images of thoughts are perceived.
Believed images are equivalent to perceptions, in effect. (It behooves us to recognize that).
Think of a thought that disturbs you; then think of a thought that evokes the emotion of 'happy'.
When you recognize the role/effect of thoughts, (like you just did in reacting to your thoughts) you can choose the thoughts, (like you just did), you 'want' to experience instead of by default of not choosing.
How many times a day do your react to UNRECOGNIZED thoughts?
How many times a day do you react to other peoples thoughts; they convey to you?

No kidding?

Glad you like it

**Posts:** 12131 · by **Richard@DecisionSkills** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 10:57 pm

sakoz wrote:
Glad you like it

I like it too! And I can help summarize the message.

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me."

**Posts:** 3267 · by **sakoz** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 11:30 pm

It's necessary to learn a language. But it was a social error to be conditioned to react to our own thoughts 'as if' they were sensory input perceptions, instead of symbols/models of/for what's in the environment., when in fact the thoughts are "in" us.
We can cause our selves to experience stress even when there's no stressors around in the environment; that would be like causing yourself a sun burn on a cloudy day when the sun can't get to your skin. Are you proud of how you can hurt yourself with your own thoughts? :lol:

**Posts:** 12131 · by **Richard@DecisionSkills** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 11:42 pm

sakoz wrote:We can cause our selves to experience stress even when there's no stressors around in the environment;

Exactly! And this is why parents the world over teach their children the nursery rhyme, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me."

**Posts:** 3267 · by **sakoz** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 11:52 pm

Richard@DecisionSkills wrote:
sakoz wrote:We can cause our selves to experience stress even when there's no stressors around in the environment;

Exactly! And this is why parents the world over teach their children the nursery rhyme, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me."
]

And; ".....words can never hurt me." That cancels out ; "We can cause our selves to experience stress even when there's no stressors in the environment" ?
That 's your strategy? Look around, and you'll see if that is working in the 'real world'. :lol:

Pull your head out of the sand and really look around.

**Posts:** 3267 · by **sakoz** » Sun Jan 18, 2015 12:08 am

Be realistic; how many people are LIVING your ideal?

Sometimes we don't distinguish thoughts from perceptions:

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

#13

#14

Main Menu

Psychology Resources

Recent posts

Active topics

Contact Us