Our mental processes, while sophisticated and refined, are susceptible to biases and distortions. One such cognitive distortion frequently discussed in the realm of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the “mental filter.” This distortion acts like a lens, selectively filtering out positive experiences and focusing primarily on the negative, thus painting a largely skewed picture of reality. This article dives deep into the nature of this distortion, its implications, and offers strategies to overcome it. Mental filter, often called “selective abstraction”, involves filtering out positive elements of a situation and exclusively zooming in on the negative. Imagine attending a gathering where you receive numerous compliments on a presentation, but one person offers a minor critique.