E V E N T R E C A P
Life Design
Human-centered and Cognitive-Based Tools for Personal Change
1. Challenging Our Cognitive Distortions
David started the workshop by talking about 3 cognitive distortions:
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Catastrophizing - the habit of mentally sprinting to the worst possible outcome long before anything actually happens.
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Perfectionism - the tendency to set extremely high, often unrealistic standards for ourselves—and then judge our worth based on whether we meet them
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People-pleasing - constant yeses even when we’re overwhelmed, over-explaining so no one gets upset, or reshaping our opinions to match whoever is in front of us
Attendees rearranged to group themselves by cognitive distortion. Each group then analyzed a hypothetical scenario, using a series of questions to guide their thinking.
After a brief share-out, David closed by introducing the Cognitive Triangle, which says that our thoughts, behaviors, and feelings are all connected.
Takeaway:
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When we change our behavior, even in small ways, our mind begins to follow. By taking intentional steps—like practicing gratitude, speaking positively, or tackling one small habit at a time—we can rewire our thinking. Changing what you do is the first step to changing how you think.
2. Life Design
Sylvie introduced the concept of Life Design, an approach to using the principles of human-centered design to build a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
After a few examples, attendees engaged in personal reflection. Guided by questions in a 5 step process, attendees reflected in detail on their day, identified friction points, surfaced underlying thoughts and narratives, reframed their situations as design questions, and planned multiple prototypes for small behavioral experiments to break the negative cycles they were experiencing. It was heavy, but insightful and inspiring!
Takeaways:
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"You can use design thinking to create a life that is meaningful, joyful and fulfilling. It doesn’t matter who you are or were - you can use the same thinking that created the most amazing technology, products and spaces to design your career and your life."
-from "Designing Your Life" -
In every limiting belief is a kernel of truth. The way forward is to build a reframed affirmation around that kernel of truth.
3. HCD Lab Community Time
To strengthen the HCD Lab community, Evan used the same Mashup activity from the previous event. Attendees listed out some interests and areas of expertise, then paired up to imagine what it might look like if the two of them hosted an HCD Lab event together. This sparked some interesting ideas and a number of the pairs wanted to follow up on their ideas!
4. Ice Cream Social
As usual, the night ended with an opportunity for further connection at a Toscanini's. As long as people keep sticking around, we'll keep doing it!
We have cognitive disorders we need to reframe. There are ways to design our life better.
I'm not the only one that suffers from anxiety, catastrophizing, or people pleasing. It's comforting to be surrounded by others.
Connecting with others is so gratifying!