Why so many people are struggling emotionally nowadays…

How shifting maladaptive mindsets to adaptive ones is a beacon of hope for long-term, positive growth and overall well-being.

I recently attended a webinar that focused on mental healthcare and why so many people are struggling emotionally nowadays.

There are many reasons for this. I suggested that a key cause of human suffering is maladaptive mindsets — like irrational and limiting beliefs, cognitive distortions, ego-based judgments, flawed values, and self-defeating intentions, among others. Maladaptive mindsets may include destructive attitudes and worldviews, as well as a sense of being undeserving, worthless, and unlovable. These thoughts and feelings are:

• Shaped by experiences in our social, psychological, economic, political, and physical environments.

• Stored in our brains and nervous system by creating and strengthening neural pathways and synaptic connections, forming the basis of our memories, beliefs, and behaviors.

• Expressed in our actions and words triggered by our perceptions and interpretations of significant events in our lives.

Transitioning from these maladaptive mindsets to adaptive ones is not just important; it’s a beacon of hope for long-term, positive growth and overall well-being. This shift is a powerful tool for making lasting, prosocial change that enhances the well-being of oneself and others.