ATEC teaches tips for tackling counterproductive thoughts

By Mrs. Courtney W Gilbert (ATEC)August 23, 2016

ATEC teaches tips for tackling counterproductive thoughts
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ATEC teaches tips for tackling counterproductive thoughts
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The U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command's, or ATEC, Ready and Resilient, or R2, Campaign program challenged the workforce to get rid of self-doubt during a resiliency training session on Real-Time Resiliency, or RTR, at the Aberdeen Test Center, or ATC, July 28.

In support of the Army's R2 initiative, ATEC's R2 program establishes long lasting cultural change that builds, strengthens, and maintains the Soldier and civilian workforce. Through monthly resilience training sessions, ATEC master resilience trainers teach life skills that help individuals learn how to rebound from tough times and become more mentally, emotionally, and spiritually stable.

Master Resiliency Trainer, Sgt. 1st Class Travis Griffith, taught the RTR skill to help the workforce overcome negative thoughts as soon as they occur so they can successfully stay on task.

"The skill involves three methods: proving your negative thoughts false with evidence; thinking optimistically; and putting the situation into perspective," Griffith said. "Successfully implementing this skill helps build optimism that will help with remaining task-focused and staying motivated to complete that task."

Griffith shared several personal examples to demonstrate how quickly counterproductive thoughts can come to mind and how to implement all three methods.

"Normally, as I'm preparing to teach a resiliency course, that's when counterproductive thoughts tend to pop into my head, and they come quick," Griffith explained. "You have to be able to get these thoughts out of your head just as quickly as you're thinking them."

In his example, Griffith addressed the negative thought of him not being prepared to teach the course by using the evidence method. By recalling the evidence of the time he had spent preparing to teach the class, this evidence canceled the negative thought and he was able to teach the course effectively.

Although Griffith explained that RTR can be successfully implemented with time and practice, he warned the workforce against using weak and pitfall responses when using this skill to combat counterproductive thoughts.

According to Griffith, weak responses are unclear and lack solid data but can be strengthened by adding more information to the response.

"The pitfall responses consist of dismissing the grain of truth; minimizing the situation; and rationalizing or excusing one's contribution to a problem," Griffith said.

Griffith explained that pitfalls keep us from challenging counterproductive thoughts. He encouraged the audience to use a "gut check", or intuition, to determine whether or not you're falling into a pitfall.

"If we're using Real-Time Resiliency, and we can feel our emotions or feelings about the situation changing, then you know it's working," Griffith said. "If you still feel the same way going into the situation, then you probably did something wrong and you need to continue practicing the skill."

Col. Terry Love, a participant in the session, expressed his thoughts on the RTR training.

"What I got out of this session was that resiliency is something you use on the job, on the road, and at home with your family," said Love. "I think this skill is applicable not just in the workplace, but it's something you should practice all day-every day because there are a lot of stressors out there that we all go through."

The next resiliency session on RTR will be held at ATC headquarters on Aug. 25 at 1 p.m.

For more information about ATEC's Ready and Resilient Campaign, visit http://www.atec.army.mil/r2c. To learn more about the Army's Ready and Resilient Campaign, visit www.army.mil.readyandresilient.