The Christian Psychologist: Mental Health for 21st Century Christ Followers Episode 71: Thinking About Thinking
Mar 30, 2025
Explore the intriguing concept of metacognition, or 'thinking about thinking,' and its profound impact on mental and spiritual health. Discover how blending Christian principles with secular techniques can enhance self-awareness and manage thought patterns. Delve into practices like the Jesus Prayer that foster deep reflection and mindfulness. The conversation intertwines psychology with spirituality, offering listeners valuable insights into navigating their thoughts in a meaningful way.
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Two Fish Tale on Self-Awareness
- Two fish in water don't recognize their environment until asked about it, illustrating how close and unaware we are of our own thoughts.
- Our thinking is so immediate that metacognition helps us step back and gain perspective on our mental habits.
Metacognition and Mental Health
- Metacognition is awareness of our cognitive processes and an attempt to control them consciously.
- Poor metacognitive ability leads to mental health issues by impairing insight and causing us to assume inaccurate thoughts as true.
Cycle of Depressive Rumination
- Depressed thinking often involves negative, distorted thoughts about self, world, and future.
- These thoughts fuel rumination, worsening depression through a cycle of low mood and withdrawal.
