All problems stem from cognition
Zhang Chaoyang expressed his views on cognitive behavioral therapy in “Dialogues Under the Stars,” saying that for a person with acrophobia, if their subsequent work requires high-altitude tasks and they do not want to give up, they can only gradually desensitize themselves and confront their fears, rather than surrendering before they even start. A person’s greatest obstacle is always themselves. The fear triggered at a safe height is often just a storm in a teacup; you must experience it to realize that everything is merely an illusion, amplified by consciousness’s worries.
Through millions of years of development, the brain has evolved a system to adapt to the environment, ensuring the infinite continuation of life, especially in ancient times when danger was everywhere—being eaten by beasts, killed by tribesmen, or poisoned by food in the forests, consumed by a harsh environment.
In nature, hundreds of deadly dangers threaten humanity at all times, so some instinctive reactions are ingrained in our genes, passed down to this generation. These functions have not been lost, and sensitivity remains. However, the current environment is filled with concrete and steel structures; we are cocooned within them, feeling exceptionally safe, no longer worrying about the primal ecology under the law of the jungle, as if humanity has jumped out of the food chain.
Your anxiety, depression, and fear all stem from ancient inheritances. What was once your lifeline has now become your death knell. Many of the things we fear are unlikely to happen, yet our genes prefer to err on the side of caution, keeping us highly alert, even low-probability events can grab our attention, which, from a genetic standpoint, seems a bit excessive.
I refer to these thoughts as illusions. Throughout history, countless people over thousands of years have spoken or realized this truth. As modern individuals, this concept becomes increasingly important. Observing everyone, you’ll find that the more successful people are, the fewer illusions they have in their minds. They focus on the present, without lingering on the past or worrying about the future. Those who are still deeply nostalgic for their first love are unlikely to be very successful now. I wonder if I am right in saying this.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
An event belongs to A, the resulting effect is B, and whether it is good or bad is our cognition C. When something constantly torments you, the first thing to consider is not how the situation is, as it has already happened and cannot be changed. You need to find a different way to understand it and convince yourself.
Nothing is absolute; what is sweet for one can be poison for another. What feels like a catastrophe to you may be easily resolvable for someone else.
Aside from material capabilities, the ability to handle emotions varies greatly from person to person, mainly stemming from our cognition and perspective on the world. For example, today’s children live in a much richer environment than before, yet their ability to cope with stress has qualitatively decreased. Being overly pampered has made their ability to handle external stimuli very weak, which is a problem of cognition C.
In clinical psychology, “cognitive behavioral therapy,” which has no side effects, is gradually replacing medication. All troubles have their causes, and the biggest problem lies in our thoughts. Modern individuals suffer from severe mental hygiene; they do not allow even a hint of dissatisfaction to occur. If placed in a war-torn era where one barely has clothes to wear or food to eat, everyone would be under stress.
The situation remains the same, but our perspectives have undergone a dramatic change. In life, it is often the case that 80% of events do not go smoothly. One’s mindset can be considered a core competitive strength; if you can manage your inner self well, you can thrive in the external world.
Is emotion controlled by external factors?
Why are we happy? It is because external events or our own thoughts cause the brain to suddenly enter an excited state, triggering the emotional switch, which reaches our consciousness and makes us feel good.
Similarly, sadness also follows this pattern: there is a cause followed by an effect. Emotion is the effect, and its cause arises from the emotional circuits in the brain. The brain produces these emotions for a reason. Firstly, you feel joy; only then can you be happy, and this feeling comes from our understanding of the outside world.
To give an inappropriate example, you may feel desire upon seeing someone of the opposite sex, while a homosexual may feel arousal upon seeing someone of the same sex.
