Perfectly Practice Applying The Psychological Knowledge You Have

We all "learn' little tidbits about life, but we do not integrate and consolidate them into our lives.

The secret to progress in life is to notice what does not work and determine what does and then consolidate that into one's life, essentially building a higher level floor from which to operate. 

Few people do this, but those who do relatively soon pass up those who are smarter than them.

You'll know if you practice irrational thinking because you will see the effect in your life: your life won't work nearly as well as you'd like AND you won't feel good about life and what is going on - and you'll blame it on conditions or circumstances at the time.

When one engages in Authentic Learning, one takes the knowledge from a learning (data transferring) situation or from making  a mistake and then completes it and installs it so it is useful.  Knowledge by itself is not power - it is only 'potential power'.  When people say "I already know that" but they don't have appropriately good results, we know that they are engaged in Insufficient Knowing. 

Since life is based on the decisions one makes in life and the conversations one has with oneself, one should become highly excellent at the prime tool for doing that:  Rational Thinking (using "Critical Thinking" skills).   And we know from the studies of genius that it takes hours of practice and paying attention to what needs to be corrected.

Maxie Maultsby, Jr., M.D. (psychiatrist), hit the nail on the head when he strongly suggested that individuals use the Rational Analysis form and process 4 times a day for at least a month plus "practicing" in your mind (called 'Rational Emotive Imagery') until you're quite good at it.

If you do this, you'll be fine tuning and better installing your tidbits of knowledge and, most importantly, you'll develop the primary skill you need to live an effective and happy life - regardless of circumstances, being happy no matter what.     

I highly, absolutely recommend you do this practical implementation, as reading randomly even on this site will not "do it" for you. 

Within one month you'll be thinking more clearly and no longer engaging in the 'untruth' or indulging the thought processes that make you unhappy or less powerful in life.

I think this is vital for all living human beings.  Please do it!

Keith

 As recommended in the write-ups, consider doing the whole process completely yourself and then taking it to a counselor for additional refinement and learning.