Can you guess which statement is false?
A
Our feelings are caused by what’s happening to us.
B
Our feelings are caused by what we think about what’s happening to us.
Many people believe their feelings are caused by what’s happening to them – that circumstances, events, and other people cause them to feel a certain way.
“No one listened to what I had to say at the meeting this morning. When my male coworker said the same thing, everyone thought it was a great idea. It made me so angry.”
“If only I had more money, I wouldn’t be so stressed out.”
“The political situation is so depressing. I’m so upset about what’s happening in this country.”
If our feelings are caused by what is happening to us, then what is happening to us would have to transmit those specific feelings in some way.
If not being acknowledged and seen causes anger, then everyone who is not acknowledged and seen would feel anger. But this is not the case.
If having a certain amount of money causes stress, then everyone who has that amount of money would feel stress. But this is not the case.
If the political situation causes depression, then everyone who knows about the political situation would feel depression. But this is not the case.
Our feelings are not caused by what is happening to us. Our feelings are caused by what we think about what is happening to us.