Brendan Kelly

When I'm swimming, there is just the swimming.

And they influence our moods and they influence the next thoughts that come along.

And cognitive therapy, which is a really helpful kind of therapy for some people, for some things, very much recognises this fact.

So this idea that...

The automatic thoughts are what shape us.

So, for example, with this lovely glass of water here, if I spilt it, I might immediately think, I spilt the water, I'm clumsy, I'm always clumsy, I have always been clumsy, I always will be clumsy.

And within seconds, my brain will correct that and say, no, you just spilt the water.

It doesn't mean anything about you.

And even if I believe that, that little train of negative thoughts that came first, they have had an impact.

Even though my logical brain dismisses them really quickly, they have had an impact.

It's the same on social media.

If you're scrolling something and let's say I saw a picture of Kim Kardashian, I would, you know what my brain would do?

And you're not to laugh at this, you have to promise you won't laugh.

My brain will compare me with Kim Kardashian.

And unfortunately, in that moment, she will come out better.

But then my brain will correct that within seconds and say, what are you doing?

This is a curated image of a social media star.

Comparing yourself to her, Brendan, is utterly bonkers.

And my logical brain will dismiss the comparison.

But my automatic thought, my automatic comparison will have had its emotional impact already.