The 5 Cs of Negative Thinking (2024)

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Brian Ford The 5 Cs of Negative Thinking (1)

Brian Ford

Leading a movement For Purpose | Behavior Change & Life Systems Coach (20+ million podcast downloads) | Social Impact Leader (Nonprofit Founder)

Published Nov 24, 2023

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I heard this from Price Pritchett on Lewis Howes podcast, which I found to be an interesting framework about the 5 Cs of Negative Thinking. The 5 Cs are complaining, criticizing, concern, commiserating, and catastrophizing. With even a baseline understanding of these words, you can see how they can lead to cycles of misguided negative thinking. And what’s interesting is each has a slightly different version that is healthy and helpful. Let’s dive into each!

First is complaining. Complaining is more than just expressing dissatisfaction, it's getting stuck in a loop of focusing on problems without seeking solutions. It feels good to complain because it separates you from what’s happening, but it becomes a habit that hinders growth and progress. It’s like a relief valve that feels good the moment it opens up, but when it closes it just fills back up with the same problems.

Next is criticizing. At first, pointing out flaws might seem like a way to improve things, but truthfully criticism dulls the shine of achievements and stifles creativity. That’s because criticizing isn’t done with the intention to improve, but rather the intention to bring something down. Shifting from criticism to constructive feedback ignites growth and fosters a more collaborative environment.

Then we have concern. While having concerns are helpful to serve as warnings, and could be positive when coming from a place of caring, it can easily be overdone and turn into worry. We gravitate toward worry because we need a way to express the uncertainty, which evolves into overthinking about things out of our control and is draining.

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Next we have commiserating. Gathering with friends to share experiences and woes can feel therapeutic initially. But when these discussions get repetitive and stuck in sharing grievances, it can make feeling bad for yourself more acceptable. Ultimately the version of this you’d like to incorporate comes from a place of sympathy for others and acceptance for yourself, so that you can reroute your behavior to something more constructive.

And the last C is for catastrophizing. This is when things are blown out of proportion and you picture the worst case scenario. It makes you feel powerless because you’ve made the obstacle out to be so much bigger than it is, and it paralyzes you from feeling like you can take any meaningful action against it.

So if you want to delete negative thoughts when they come up, try to label them with one of these 5 terms and transition your way away from them. The most important conversation you’ll ever have is the one constantly happening in your head!

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Milkias Belay

Director | Data Analytics | Visualization | Telecommunication | Project Management | SAP Service Cloud | Tableau | Coffee Enthusiast

3mo

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Thank you for sharing.

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Selena Djordjevic

Marketing Assistant | Sustainability Marketing

6mo

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I was searching for this particular topic and came across your article and profile. Very insightful topics covered in a commendable way. Great job!

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Clifford Starks

🔓Unlock Your Inner Warrior to Gain the Edge in Your Business. Growth, Mindset, Life! | Executive and Leadership Coach | Turn Pressure Into Fuel and Watch Your Business Grow! 📈 #thefightersformula #cliffordstarks

8mo

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Very nice, once a person is aware of them they actually have an opportunity to avoid. Great article 👏

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The 5 Cs of Negative Thinking (2024)

FAQs

The 5 Cs of Negative Thinking? ›

These five Cs—COMPLAINING, CRITICIZING, CONCERN, COMMISERATING, and CATASTROPHIZING—serve as a foundation for understanding how certain patterns of thought can inadvertently foster cycles of counterproductive negativity, thereby constraining our potential and efforts.

What are the 5 C's of negative thinking? ›

The 5 Cs are complaining, criticizing, concern, commiserating, and catastrophizing. With even a baseline understanding of these words, you can see how they can lead to cycles of misguided negative thinking. And what's interesting is each has a slightly different version that is healthy and helpful.

What are the 5 C's to avoid? ›

Chasing these material things has stirred on many negative behaviours that are common to many, where we Complain, Criticise, Compare, Compete, Correct, Control. But yet so many of us still do it as it seems to give temporary relief, or believe that these behaviours will eventually improve the situation.

What are the 3 C's of negative thinking? ›

If not you can encourage them to consciously decide to practice thinking more accurate and healthful substitutes each time the negative habitual ones creep in. Some clients may be familiar with the “3 C's” which is a formalized process for doing both the above techniques (Catch it, Check it, Change it).

What are five C's? ›

Character, capacity, capital, collateral and conditions are the 5 C's of credit. Lenders may look at the 5 C's when considering credit applications. Understanding the 5 C's could help you boost your creditworthiness, making it easier to qualify for the credit you apply for.

What are the 5 C's in psychology? ›

The 5Cs are represented by the attributes and skills of commitment, communication, concentration, control and confidence - with the goal of helping organisations create 'psychologically-informed environments' that nurture the 5Cs in young athletes.

What are the 5 C principles? ›

The five Cs of credit are character, capacity, capital, collateral, and conditions.

What are the 5 C's of depression? ›

The 5Cs are Competence, Confidence, Character, Connection, and Caring [1].

What are the 5 C's model? ›

The 5Cs are Company, Collaborators, Customers, Competitors, and Context.

What are the 5 Cs philosophy? ›

That's why we've identified the Five C's of Critical Thinking, Creativity, Communication, Collaboration and Leadership, and Character to serve as the backbone of a Highland education.

What are the 5 Cs of anxiety? ›

The 5Cs are competence, confidence, character, caring, and connection. The anxiety dimensions are Social anxiety, Physical symptoms, Separation anxiety, and Harm avoidance.

What are the 5 Cs of coping? ›

My review produced “5 Cs of resilience”: confidence/control, connections, commitment, calmness, and care for self. As a psychiatrist, I have worked with physicians in distress for 25 years.

How to reverse negative thinking? ›

Engage in positive activities: Doing things you enjoy or that make you feel good can naturally shift your focus from negative to positive. Use positive affirmations: Regularly using positive statements about yourself can help in gradually changing negative thought patterns.

What are the 5 disadvantages of negative thinking? ›

Disadvantages of negative thoughts: There is no fun whatsoever at any time day or night, Debbie Downer and Negative Ned will be hanging around you as much as you will allow them, you may experience depression, you may feel ill, positive people will avoid you they very well may also lie to you when you ask, if they are ...

What are the 5 C's philosophy? ›

That's why we've identified the Five C's of Critical Thinking, Creativity, Communication, Collaboration and Leadership, and Character to serve as the backbone of a Highland education.

What are the 4 C's of critical thinking? ›

The 4 C's to 21st century skills are just what the title indicates. Students need these specific skills to fully participate in today's global community: Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Creativity.

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