"Why do we often behave badly when we know better? Often it's because our highest thinking centers are compromised when we are upset. Since we are geared towards survival, much of the content of our minds is driven by stress physiology. One result from your conscious brain reflecting your powerful unconscious brain is repetitive unwanted thoughts (RUTs). You can't outfight your unconscious mind, and positive thinking is a mismatch that makes things worse."
"The answer starts with recognizing that your thoughts aren't the problem. Your relationship with your thoughts is the issue. Instead of trying to control what you think, you can learn to direct where you place your conscious attention. This isn't about suppression or replacement. It's about creating space and redirecting your attention. Like training a puppy, you don't punish unwanted behavior; instead, you consistently redirect attention to what you want to reinforce."
Conscious brain interpretations of internal bodily sensations largely reflect survival physiology, shifting blood flow away from higher reasoning and increasing reactive behavior. Stress-driven mind content produces repetitive unwanted thoughts (RUTs) that cannot be outmatched by forceful reasoning or positive thinking. The problem lies in the relationship with thoughts rather than the thoughts themselves. Directing conscious attention, rather than suppressing or replacing thoughts, creates space to change habitual patterns. Consistent redirection of attention—analogous to training a puppy—reduces reinforcement of unwanted mental content. Awareness provides the means to notice thoughts without feeding them energy, reallocating mental resources toward desired responses.
Read at Psychology Today
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