Theraverse
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March 18, 2024
Thoughts are like a running dialogue in your brain. They come and go fast. So fast, in fact, that we rarely have the time to question them. Our thoughts determine how we feel, and how we act. That is, what we think has a direct connection to our emotions and actions. Hence, it’s important to challenge any thoughts that cause us harm.
But sometimes, we may not be completely capable of knowing what our thoughts mean or where they are coming from. And often end up in a spiral of automatic thoughts multiplying horizontally instead of vertically figuring out the root of the thought.
This is where Socratic questioning comes in handy, this is a method of inquiry that seeks to explore complex ideas, concepts, and beliefs by asking questions that challenge assumptions, clarify meaning, and reveal underlying principles. It hand-holds us through the vertical journey of getting to the origin and purpose of a thought!
Spend a moment thinking about each of the following questions, and record thorough responses. Elaborate, and explain “why” or “why not” in your responses.
Thought to be questioned:
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What is the evidence for this thought? Against it?
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Am I basing this thought on facts, or on feelings?
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Is this thought black and white, when reality is more complicated?
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Could I be misinterpreting the evidence? Am I making any assumptions?
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Might other people have different interpretations of this same situation? What are they?
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Am I looking at all the evidence, or just what supports my thought?
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Could my thought be an exaggeration of what’s true?
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Am I having this thought out of habit, or do the facts support it?
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Did someone pass this thought / belief to me? If so, are they a reliable source?
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Is my thought a likely scenario, or is it the worst case scenario?
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source: https://www.therapistaid.com/search?query=socratic+questioning
