Unthink

To actively dismiss or disregard a thought, idea, or belief, often by deliberately ceasing to dwell on it or choosing to consider it invalid. It implies a conscious effort to move away from a line of reasoning, feeling, or memory. This process can involve re-evaluating the information, choosing to suppress it, or replacing it with an alternative perspective. Unthinking can be a method of cognitive control, allowing one to manage intrusive thoughts, overcome negative emotions, or adapt to changing circumstances, but can also be a tool of manipulation, or self-deception. It may involve a conscious and active decision.

Unthink meaning with examples

• Haunted by a painful memory, Sarah decided to unthink it. She started focusing on positive experiences, consciously pushing the old thought aside whenever it surfaced, and replacing the negative imagery with something more comforting. It wasn't easy, but the constant effort slowly diminished the power of the past experience, helping her to move on and recover.
• The politician realized a comment he'd made might harm his campaign. He knew that to get ahead in his career, he needed to quickly unthink the statement and focus instead on promoting his strengths and his message. He launched a media campaign to counter the original comment.
• After years of studying logic, he attempted to unthink the principles of reasoning, finding the challenge far more difficult than the study itself. The challenge was not simply stopping the thoughts, but to remove the logical pathways to stop them from arising to begin with.
• Facing the prospect of a dangerous mission, the astronaut tried to unthink the possibility of failure. Instead, he concentrated on the meticulous preparation, imagining success in every aspect of the journey. He focused on the details of the mission to block out doubt.