While you don’t need a PhD to understand your thoughts, you need to know the basics of how they work.

Having this knowledge makes thoughts less abstract and more manageable. Instead of thinking you are your thoughts, or that thoughts are something mysterious, you come to see them as something you can manage and control.

Thought Literacy and Essential Thought Concepts

The thought literacy model of thought awareness includes core cognitive knowledge. This collection of concepts is what the average person needs to know to have a practical understanding of their thoughts so they can manage them.

Concepts are from various fields including neuroscience, cognitive science, psychology, and philosophy, as well as updates from scientific research on mental health and cognition, and original terms coined to fill gaps in language where none existed to describe important concepts.

The science of thinking is extensive, with hundreds of items that could be included. This model is intentionally limited to the essential knowledge needed to understand your thoughts, work with them effectively, and build thought literacy.

These core concepts are split into three sections:

1. General Thought Concepts
2. Thought Awareness Concepts
3. Thought Management Concepts

Note: This page will be updated as new concepts are added and expanded upon.

🟢 indicates a term original to thought literacy

General Thought Concepts

• Prefrontal Cortex-Amygdala Connection
• Conscious and Subconscious
• Neuroplasticity
• Mind-body connection
• Sensory Input
• Thought Sciences (Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, Psychology, Philosophy)
• Metacognition (PM&E Cycle)
• Adaptability
• Identity
• Values

Thought Awareness Concepts

• Thought Awareness 🟢
• Reflection
• Rumination 
• Thought-emotion connection (Emotional Intelligence)
• Trigger
• Automatic Thoughts
• Beliefs
• Core Beliefs
• Internal Dialogue 
• Interpretations
• Priors
• Framing
• The Five Drivers for Thought Awareness 🟢
• Thought Habits & Patterns
  • Cognitive Distortions, Cognitive biases, Adaptive and Maladaptive thoughts, Self-fulfilling prophecy, Comparative Thinking, Limiting Beliefs, Critical Thinking
• Social Influences
  • Manipulation Tactics, Influence Tactics, Social Proof, Propaganda

Thought Management Concepts

• Thought Management 🟢
• Locus of Control
• Thought Restructuring (The ICE Method) 🟢
• Thought Reverse Engineering 🟢
• Trichotomy of Control
• Bridge Thought 🟢
• Intellectualization
• Responsibility
• Acceptance
• Uncertainty tolerance
• Secondary methods
  • Cognitive Therapy, Meditation, Mindfulness, Journaling, Yoga