Catastrophizing

Negative Thought:

Believing the worst-case scenario will happen.

Example:

Problem: You’re waiting to hear back about a job interview, and it’s taking longer than expected.

Negative Thinking: "They haven’t called because I must have completely messed up the interview. I’ll never get a job."

Mind Hack: Reality Check—Ask yourself, "Is it really true that I messed up? What are other possible reasons for the delay?" Perhaps they are interviewing other candidates or dealing with internal delays.

Other Mind Hacks

  • Reality Check: Ask yourself, "Is this really the worst possible outcome, or am I exaggerating?" List more probable outcomes.

  • Break it Down: Identify smaller, manageable steps you can take to prevent or handle the situation.

  • Visualize Success: Shift your focus by imagining the best-case scenario and the positive steps you can take