Blog — emotional intelligence

Overgeneralization Cognitive Distortion: Spot It, Stop It, Change It

Overgeneralization is a common cognitive distortion that impacts how we think, feel, and interact with the world. Often triggered by limited or isolated experiences, overgeneralization leads us to create sweeping beliefs about ourselves, others, or future events that are far from accurate.

Whether it’s in relationships, self-assessment, or fears, this thought pattern can fuel anxiety, reinforce stereotypes, and keep you stuck in negative downward spirals. In research and other fields, it leads to undeserved broad conclusions.

In this post, I’ll explore the concept of overgeneralization in-depth, examine its effects across different areas of life, and provide strategies and resources to help you break free from its limiting grasp.

Let’s get started!

36 Positive Life Quotes About Learning from Mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes. Mistakes are an unavoidable part of life. They are also powerful teachers. While mistakes and failure may create setbacks, if you use them wisely, they can reorient you in the right direction and seed growth, resilience, and innovation.

This collection of quotes highlights the wisdom, insight, and motivation that come from embracing and learning from your mistakes.

And to help you move mistakes off your dreaded-things list, I'll point you toward resources for Reframing Mistakes and Failure CBT Worksheets.

What Is Mental Filtering? Exposing This Cognitive Distortion

Mental filtering is one of the most common cognitive distortions, impacting your outlook by causing a hyperfocus on the negative while ignoring the positive.

If you've ever allowed one small piece of constructive criticism to overshadow lots of positive feedback for a job well done, that’s an example of the mental filter cognitive distortion.

Let’s explore what mental filtering is, its effects, and practical ways to counteract it.

Four Fs of Stress and Trauma: Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn Explained

Have you ever found yourself reacting to stress in ways that seem out of your control? Those automatic responses can get you in trouble! They can mess with your relationships, work life, and personal well-being.

You are probably aware of the fight-or-flight emergency stress response concept, but may not know that 2-only list of instinctual reactions has been expanded as more research into stress has been performed.

As the list has grown, the F alliteration has remained. The expanded list includes Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn. (Some have added others like Faint or Flop, and Friend. I'll explain why I don't typically include these when talking about the stress response.)

Recognizing the Four Fs stress response can empower you to better manage stress and make healthier choices in challenging situations.

The Authenticity Continuum: Too Little, Too Much, and Healthy Green Zone

Explore the meaning, benefits, and practical tips for living authenticly. And what too little and too much authenticity look like. 

15 Research-Based Emotional Intelligence Benefits

Sorting out the hype from reality, this article presents the research-based benefits of having a high emotional intelligence, and its link to relationships, success, and wellbeing.