PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT autopilot system treats them like tigers.

This produces an unnecessarily stressful

LESSON TITLE: CONNECTING THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, AND BEHAVIORS FOR • The intentional system reflects our rational thinking and centers around the prefrontal
EVALUATING ONE’S SELF cortex: the part of the brain that evolved more recently. According to recent research, it
developed as humans started to live within larger social groups. This thinking system
helps us handle more complex mental activities, such as managing individual and group
What’s In relationships, logical reasoning, probabilistic thinking, and learning new information and
patterns of thinking and behavior.
As discussed in the previous lesson, there are five areas of personality development. While the automatic system requires no conscious effort to function, the intentional
These aspects include the mental, spiritual, emotional, physical, and social aspects. Thus, system takes deliberate effort to turn on, and it is mentally tiring. Fortunately, with enough
these areas provide a different view of the process of developing the personality of an individual. motivation and appropriate training, the intentional system can turn on when the autopilot system
Knowing that no two individuals are the same, there are many things to consider when is prone to make errors, especially costly ones.
we talk about personality development. We may look the same and may have had similar
experiences in life, but we are all unique in our ways. Many factors have gone into the
development of a particular type of personality. From childhood to adulthood, we go through
different processes, experiences, and situations that contribute to the formation of our
personality.

What is It

❖ THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, AND BEHAVIOR

The only things we can control in life are our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. If we
can manage those, we can achieve our goals and gain success in life. To have this level of
control, we need to learn about the science-based patterns behind our emotions and thoughts
and manage them. If we know how our minds work, we can be intentional about influencing our
thinking and feeling patterns. We can evaluate reality more clearly, make better decisions, and
improve our ability to achieve our goals. Thus, we gain greater agency and the quality of living
intentionally.
How do our minds work? Intuitively, our mind feels like a cohesive whole. We perceive
ourselves as intentional and rational thinkers. However, cognitive science research shows that From the Author, Gleb Tsipursky Ph. D., April 13, 2016
in reality, the intentional part of our mind is similar to a little rider on top of a huge elephant of
emotions and intuitions. An example of such interconnection of Thoughts, Feelings, and Behavior is when we
Roughly speaking, we have two thinking systems. Daniel Kahneman, who won the experience the pandemic crisis. Surely, we cannot control the things that have to happen,
Nobel Prize for his research on behavioral economics, calls them “System 1” and “System 2." especially the spread of the virus or the many deaths and cases steadily rising. However, from
Nevertheless, I think the terms “autopilot system” and “intentional system” describe them the citations from Dr. Tsipursky, the only manageable and controllable aspect that we can use
more clearly and intuitively. to combat what we are experiencing are the things that we already have. Further, they are
readily available, within your reach, within your aspect of control.
• The autopilot system corresponds to our emotions and intuitions. Its cognitive Our perception of stress, brought mainly by the pandemic times, can be directed to
processes take place mainly in the amygdala and other parts of the brain that productive use, only if we make the necessary effort to change. The Personality Theory of
developed early in evolution. This system guides our daily habits, helps us make snap Bandura (Bandura, 2006), suggests that we learn mostly through observations—observing
decisions, and reacts instantly to dangerous life-and-death situations (such as saber- others' actions, behaviors, and the outcome of these behaviors. The more productive and
toothed tigers) through the freeze, fight or flight stress response. While it helped us positive the outcome of behaviors observed, the more the behavior is highly repeated and
survive in the past, the fight-or-flight response is not an excellent fit for modern life. We eventually rewarded. Our practical adjustment to the pandemic times is already an example.
have many small stresses (and big stresses) that are not life-threatening, but the
 Albert Bandura’s study does not only involve observations, but it expounds on the
sphere of influence. These include the influence of the environment and vice-versa. Our
thoughts (thinking), feelings, and behavior influence the environment (and those merely Thoughts, Feelings, and Behavior: They are All Connected!
observing). Even though the environmental times are changing, we still have our capacity to
decide and perceive change, of course, ourselves in the process as the most significant factor.
People’s responses change as they encounter new situations. Research shows that
people who believe in their capacity to excel tend to perform better. People with high self-efficacy
view challenges as an opportunity to be equipped. Believing that such moments are learning
experiences, they commit to finishing the tasks— whatever it takes. They keep pushing forward
despite discouragements. Meanwhile, people with weak self-efficacy do not believe in their
ability to succeed. Thus, they avoid tasks that they think are too difficult. When evaluating
themselves, they only focus on their weaknesses. With this kind of mindset, they easily give up.
Therefore, how one sees oneself matters! What a person believes he/she can and cannot do
matters!
Our personal development is not only limited to the physical and intellectual aspects.
One must be aware that human development involves holistic development—physiologically,
emotionally, cognitively, socially, and spiritually. Thus, when we look at ourselves, we must take
into account all of these aspects. We cannot recognize some and ignore others because they
are interrelated. One aspect affects all the others. If one wants to be a healthy human being,
one must pay attention to those aspects of development.
One popular kind of counseling is called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). It is
based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all connected and influence
EVALUATING ONE’S THOUGHTS, FEELINGS AND BEHAVIOR
one another.
For example, if we are feeling sad or depressed, we might have thoughts like we are
✓ DEFINING THOUGHTS, FEELINGS AND BEHAVIOR not worth much of anything, and we might do behaviors like stay in bed all day. On the other
hand, if we are feeling happy or excited, we might have thoughts like the future is bright, and we
Before we go on through further discussions of the lesson, let us be familiar with the might do behaviors like calling a friend or see a movie.
following terms:
✓ TRACK YOUR THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, AND BEHAVIORS
THOUGHTS FEELINGS BEHAVIOR
According to dictionary.com -the Both emotional experiences and In psychology, behavior consists
product of mental activity; that physical sensations — such as of an organism's external Sometimes it can be helpful to keep track of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors,
which the capacity or faculty of hunger or pain — bring about reactions to its environment. especially if we are feeling down and want to feel happier. Sometimes when I’m feeling down, I
thinking, reasoning, imagining; a feelings, according to Other aspects of psychology, might not have an explanation for it. That happened to me a couple weeks ago. I was feeling
consideration or reflection; Psychology Today. Feelings are such as emotions, thoughts, and sad, but I wasn’t sure why.
meditation, contemplation, or a conscious experience, other internal mental processes, If we pause and identify our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, we can learn valuable
recollection: one thinks although not every conscious don't usually fall under the information to move forward. For example, some of the thoughts I experienced that coincides
experience, such as seeing or category of behavior. Behavior with being sad was the thought that I was alone--most of my friends are already married and
believing. may be modified 21 according to having their own families. The behaviors that went along with my sadness, such as staying in
positive or negative
my apartment, not initiating with my friends, and not picking up the phone when someone calls.
reinforcements from the
organisms of environment or
according to self-directed Example of Tracking:
intentions. So, if I were to keep track of my thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, I might write down
the following:
Time: Saturday night
Thought: I am alone. I am out of step with my friends.
Feeling: Sadness
Behavior: Isolating. Not calling friends. Not picking up the phone.
 As I continue to track my thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, I begin to get more
information about what thoughts and behaviors are associated with each of my feelings. What
What I Can Do
is going on when I am feeling Sad? Angry? Scared? Happy? Excited? Tender?
Getting this information is the first step toward making a change.
VIDEO / PHOTO DIARY
Action Step: Stop three times during your day to day activities and write down your
thoughts, feeling, and behavior. Try to do this once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and
Instruction: During these pandemic times, we are experiencing different types of
once in the evening.
thoughts, feelings, and emotions. There are times that we feel scared and anxious about what
will happen to us in the coming days. There are uncertainties and confusion on how we will
WHOLE PERSON DEVELOPMENT
deal with the pandemic. Staying at home is indeed boring. Nonetheless, it is also fulfilling if
you make yourself busy. It is also a time for bonding with our families, letting Mother
Becoming a whole person involves utilizing our heart, our soul, our mind, and our
Earth breathe, making the environment go back slowly to its clean state. There are lots
strength. These elements are meant to operate in an integrated and holistic manner by making
of realizations, discoveries and, improvements that you can do. Do share your experiences,
them work together. Human life is complicated, consisting of many different facets—our work
and you will learn from them.
life, home life, social life, spiritual life, to name a few. Balancing is the key. What we often fail to
realize is that each of these sectors of our lives impacts one another.
Make a Video/ Photo Diary about your experiences during the pandemic times. Realize
That is where Whole Person Development comes in. Whole Person Development is a
what your thoughts are as well as your feelings and how you behaved
practice based on the theory that different parts of our lives are intricately connected. It views
considering the five areas of development.
success and fulfillment as a product of overall life balance.
For Video Diary, you can create a two to three minutes compilation of your
photos during the pandemic times.
For Photo Diary, you can create a photo album with 7 to 10 pictures with
captions.
Assessment
Instruction: Write the word TRUE if the statement is correct. Otherwise, write FALSE. Rubrics for Video/Photo Diary
_________ 1. Our emotions can often overwhelm our rational thinking.
_________ 2. Our intuitions and habits do not determine the large majority of our lives, which CATEGORY 15 10 5
we spend on autopilot mode. Creativity The photos are The photos are well The photos were
_________ 3. If we do not know how our minds work, we can be intentional about influencing excellently arranged with arranged with compiled with
our thinking and feeling patterns.
appropriate captions appropriate captions minimal creativity.
_________ 4. The more productive and positive the outcome of behaviors is observed, the more
the behavior is highly repeated and eventually rewarded. Design The design is excellent The design is very The design is good.
_________ 5. You can use the intentional system to change your automatic thinking, feelings good.
and behavioral patterns. In this way, you will become a better agent in terms of taking charge of Number of The collage includes 15 The collage includes The collage includes
your life and reaching your goals. Items or more items, each 10-14 different 9 different items.
_________ 6. Our personal development is only limited to the physical and intellectual aspects. different. items.
_________ 7. The autopilot system corresponds to our emotions and intuitions. Its cognitive
processes take place mainly in the amygdala and other parts of the brain that developed early Titles and Titles and text were Titles and text were Titles and text were
in our evolution. Text written clearly and were written clearly and written clearly and
_________ 8. People’s responses do not change as they encounter new situations. easy to read from a were easy to read were easy to read
_________ 9. There is no interconnection between our Thoughts, Feelings and Behavior. distance. Text varied in close-up. Text varied close-up. There was
_________ 10. Our perception to stress, especially brought by the pandemic times, can be color, size and/or style in color, size, and/or little variation in the
directed to productive use only if we make the necessary effort to change.
for different text style for different appearance of text.
elements. text elements.