We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world....Buddha

I love this quote, because it conveys such a simple message, while at the same time really gets at the root of so much human behaviour. At heart, we as humans see the world through our own distinct lens (thoughts/beliefs), which shapes everything we feel, do and become.

Wow, there’s your deep thought of the day, but how does the teachings of the Buddha connect with cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)?

In essence, CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are constantly interacting and influencing one another. How we interpret or think about a situation determines how we feel about it, which then determines how we'll react.

Here’s an example that many of you have likely experienced. You text a friend to find out what they’re up to on the weekend, and hours go by with no response. The first thought that enters your mind might be, why hasn’t this person texted me back? Which may lead to thoughts such as, I’m not good/important enough and/or this person must have better things to do than hang out with me. These thoughts then lead to feelings of loneliness, rejection and despair. You spend the weekend watching Netflix, feeling sorry for yourself.

Sinking into the rabbit hole of negative thoughts/beliefs can be overwhelming and debilitating. The strength of CBT is that it can heighten awareness of your core beliefs, and help you develop a deeper understanding how these beliefs affect the way you see/interact with the world.

If you're interested in learning more, on Thursday March 9th, I’m presenting a workshop on the Fundamentals of CBT, which will not only give you a better understanding of how your thoughts and emotions affect your life, but also tools to deal with of the negative thinking that's been holding you back and keeping you stuck.

For more information and/or reserve a spot, go to the Workshops page