Mind Traps
This trap happens when you refuse to take responsibility and instead make someone else responsible for what happened.
The Blame Trap
This WOT uses explanations that sound logical to excuse yourself from full responsibility.
Rationalization
This WOT is the belief that you deserve special treatment or that the rules should not apply to you.
Entitlement
This WOT can be used to avoid participation, studying, or responsibility by labeling something 'boring,' 'stupid,' or 'lame.'
Boredom
This practice means being open to other people's ideas and perspectives, especially when they challenge your beliefs.
Practice Open Thinking
This trap sees people or events as totally one way or totally the other, such as success/failure or good/bad.
The All-or-Nothing Trap
This WOT makes a serious behavior or problem seem smaller than it really is, often using words such as 'just' or 'only.'
Minimizing
This WOT changes the subject or redirects attention away from an uncomfortable issue.
Hop Over
Someone responds to a question about their behavior by changing the subject and focusing attention somewhere else. Which WOT is this?
Hop Over
When thoughts about drinking, drugs, or criminal behavior come up, this practice asks you to picture the likely consequences rather than focusing only on the excitement.
Consider Consequences Rather Than Thinking You Can Control Them
This trap makes you feel like you are a victim of circumstances and have no way to solve your problems.
The Helpless Trap
This WOT focuses on someone else as the cause of a problem so you do not have to consider your own actions.
Blaming
This WOT distorts the truth or leaves out important details to mislead or confuse others.
Lying
Someone says, 'Everybody was doing it, so I had to.' Which WOT best fits this attempt to excuse behavior?
Rationalization
This practice means owning your thoughts, actions, and mistakes instead of taking a victim stance.
Accept Personal Responsibility
This trap involves being unfairly harsh or critical toward yourself and believing you should have done better.
The Guilt Trap
This WOT assumes you know another person's thoughts, feelings, or motives without checking the facts.
This WOT involves believing you are superior to others and that you are right about everything.
Grandiosity
Someone says, 'It was just one lousy beer,' to make the behavior seem less serious. Which WOT is this?
Minimizing
Instead of blaming problems or other people, this practice asks you to examine how you performed while working toward your goals.
Analyze Your Performance Rather Than Blaming Problems on Others
This trap turns a small problem into a major crisis or assumes an attempt will end in disaster.
This WOT can be used to avoid obligations by claiming you do not understand, remember, or know what happened.
Confusion
This WOT presents yourself as powerless or as the 'true victim' so you do not have to be accountable for your choices.
Victim Stance
Someone says, 'He did that just to make me mad,' without checking the other person's actual motive. Which WOT is this?
Assuming
This practice recognizes that mistakes do not make you worthless and encourages achievable goals and an 'I can do it' attitude.
Develop a Realistic Self-View