Inversion Thinking
Instead of thinking about positive outcomes (assuming everything will turn out right), turn the process on its head by thinking what could go wrong and cause you to fail so you know what and who to avoid to maximize your chance of success or at least not being surprised so you’re able to make contingency plans ahead of time to compensate
You need to also do the more conventional process of thinking so you actually have an affirmative plan but it helps to know where all the mines are buried (like Minesweeper)
I’ll let you, OP borrow my brain anyday if you’d like to experience what it’s like to live always expecting things to go wrong.
TIL neurotypicals literally just go about their day and work life just assuming everything will go right
That is not what I have observed. I do kinda wonder sometimes however
Me: right so we said we would be there by 630. If we leave within the next five minutes we should be there at 6:25
Wife: it’s fine
Me: just you know we could leave now and no one has to have any anxiety about being late.
Wife: they aren’t going to care
Me: true they won’t really care that much but we did say 6:30. Wouldn’t it be nice to not be worried? Like what if we make a wrong turn and have to double back? We would still be on time if we left now.
i don’t expect things anymore, it goes how it goes. if it doesn’t go how it’s supposed to go, i’ll see if i can fix it.
My whole life is inversion thinking and I’m depressed 🙃
Right? Inversion thinking just sounds like a fancy way of saying anxiety.
The definition given is almost word for word the definition of an engineering mindset, regardless of field.
I’d say it’s not a bad way to think about your life as well, as long as you limit the scope to things you realistically have the ability to impact and focus most of your energy on the actual problem solving.
Maybe inverse thinking for you could be tempering all that with what might go right and leveraging that as a way to honor both the negative and positive capabillities of your mind.
You’re telling me you couldn’t literally just reverse whatever your pessimistic insights were as a thought experiment and find a way to take both into consideration to inform your final approch or strategy for whatever is at issue?
The best way I’ve come across to illustrate this is
- Hope/ideate for the best but plan or mitigate the worst
- How could this go wrong; tell me where I’m going to die so I can avoid thar
The problem with anxiety and experiencing this inversion thinking is that it is a constant bombardment of everything that can go wrong. Combined with PTSD/CPTSD, the brain is in constant “danger mode”, looks for all kinds of dangers, not just the ones we have control over. It is a terrifying way to go through life. I’ve been in therapy for years and yes, countering with what can go right is one of the coping techniques, but it takes extreme effort. Constant effort over years and years to change these thinking patterns, to lessen the anxiety of what can go wrong to the point that it is actually useful again. Until then, the brain rapidly rejects thoughts of what can go right, because it is so strongly convinced that things will go wrong.
The goal is what you are saying, yes. But for a lot of us it takes completely rewiring our brains to escape the constant bombardment of thoughts of danger, to avoid the fear and anxiety. It isnt as easy as just flipping it around.
This is similar to the advice people give to depressed people about looking for positives in life, sure thats true and will help eventually, but there is so much more work that needs to be done when the brain is in a really bad place. It doesnt really help to say “just think of the bright side!”
So invert it ;)
Seriously, its a good thing you can access that side of the thought process, you may just need to consciously do the opposite as a daily practice to even things out. I habitually assume the worst and I enjoy being proven wrong because it means it worked out well but I might not always get so lucky so im glad the other part’s got me covered
-1 * -1 == 1
Don’t fuck your future self.
Putting something away? Better make sure it’s not just the most convenient spot for you right now but somewhere future you can find it. Should I finish this family sized bag of chips? I’m really not hungry anymore and will want some another day this week. Save some for future you.
Just little things to help yourself along and think a few steps ahead.
**YESS!!**Particularly important for us AD(H)D folks, its mean to future you to be a lazy jerk all the time
We create narratives bout everything we experience. If I am upset and getting worked up, why am I telling myself a story that makes me upset? When you realize your feelings are based on the story you’re telling yourself, it’s easier to create a different narrative, or at least separate your feelings from reality.
You mean the terror I get from not knowing what is going to happen so I over plan and over estimate everything I’ll need is healthy? TIL
