Do your thoughts affect how you experience your life? When we are anxious, discouraged, or overwhelmed, the mind narrows. It begins to scan for evidence that confirms whatever it already believes: “Nothing is working.” “I always mess this up.” “People can’t be trusted.” “This day is a disaster.” This narrowing of perception when we are under stress is a common cognitive distortion often called black-and-white thinking — the tendency to see experiences in extremes rather than