The Four (4) Questions of Cartesian Logic and Cognitive Dissonance.

Cognitive Dissonance. is a psychological phenomenon which refers to the discomfort felt at a discrepancy between what you already know or believe, and new information or interpretation.
One often experiences strong dissonance when one believes something about oneself and then behaves in a way that is contrary to that belief. For example, if I believe I am good but do something bad, then the discomfort I feel as a result is cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance is a very powerful motivator which will often lead people to change one or other of the conflicting attitude/belief or behavior. The discomfort often feels like a tension between the two opposing thoughts. 

To release the tension one can either:
- Change the behavior to align with one's belief(s).
- Justify the behavior by changing the conflicting belief.
- Justify the behavior by adding new beliefs.

A coach or therapist can use CognitiveDissonance to effectively help their client change a behavior or attitude (Belief or limiting belief) that doesn't serve them.

Cognitive dissonance and/or Inertia are very difficult enemies in the decision making process and will usually push someone towards a path of least resistance.

A Course in Miracles says to ask the Holy Spirit before you do anything. The Four (4) Questions of Cartesian Logic are useful until you’re adept at that. Say you want to sell something, are thinking of having another cup of coffee or maybe convincing your teenager to take out the trash.

·         The theorem is: “What will happen if you take out the trash?”

o    A(I will)

o    B(take out the trash)

·         The inverse is: “What will happen if you DON’T take out the trash?”

o    A (What will happen)

o    –B(if I don’t take out the trash?)

·         The converse is: “What WON’T happen if you take out the trash?”

o    –A (What WON’T happen)

o    B ( if you take out the trash?)

·         The non mirror image reverse is: “What WON’T happen if you DON’T take out the trash?”

o    –A (What WON’T happen)

o    –B (if you DON’T take out the trash?)

Byron Katie has a video on YouTube where she suggests role playing. The parent, as the teenager, asks “What will happen if I don’t take out the trash.” The teenager, as the parent, replies “You’ll be grounded for a week”. Whatever works.

You can also use it to seek out the boundary conditions when communicating with someone so that we may better understand what their thought processes are made up of. By asking specific questions you can determine what they are afraid of, uninterested in or uncomfortable with.

Suppose you meet someone and you want to ask them out on a date. What could make you interesting enough for them to say “yes”?

·         The theorem is: “What WILL happen if you do go out with me?”

o    A(Will you go out)

o    B(with me?)

·         The inverse is: “What WILL happen if you don’t go out with me?”

o    A (What WILL happen)

o    –B (if you don’t go out with me?)

·         The converse is: “What WON’T happen if you do go out with me?”

o    –A (What WON’T happen)

o    B (if you do go out with me?)

·         The non mirror image reverse is: “What WON’T happen if you don’t go out with me?”

o    –A (What WON’T happen)

o    –B (if you don’t go out with me?)

Suppose you want to sell your client your product or services?

·         The theorem is: “What WILL happen if you buy my product?”

o    A(Will you buy)

o    B(my product?)

·         The inverse is: “What WILL happen if you don’t buy my product?”

o    A (What WILL happen)

o    –B (if you don’t buy my product?)

·         The converse is: “What WON’T happen if you do buy my product?”

o    –A (What WON’T happen)

o    B (if you do buy my product?)

·         The non mirror image reverse is: “What WON’T happen if you don’t buy my product?”

o    –A (What WON’T happen)

o    –B (if you don’t but my product?)

Do you or do you know people that suffer from depression?
In order for a circumstance to be depressing, the circumstances that surround it (or are “NOT it”) must NOT be depressing… So while your problem (divorce) may be depressing:

·         Spending time with your children (NOT the divorce) is NOT depressing.

·         Working out or exercising (NOT the divorce) is NOT depressing.

·         Spending time with friends and other family members (NOT the divorce) is NOT depressing.

·         Driving at success in your career (NOT the divorce) is NOT depressing.

So these may be places to begin working with during the process of overcoming your depression.