I found the following definition of rational thought useful (from a site on stress management)
Stress Reduction Techniques
Whenever you experience stress, it would help a great deal to check in with your perception of the situation before allowing your stress level to build too greatly.
Rational or Irrational?Ask yourself five questions to determine if your thoughts are rational or irrational.
1) If I believe this thought to be true, will it help me remain safe and alive?
2) Is this thought objectively true, and upon what evidence can I form this opinion?
3) Is this thought producing feelings I want to have?
4) Is this thought helping me reach a chosen goal?
5) Is this thought likely to minimize conflict with others?
In the place where I originally came on this idea, “The Small Book” by Jack Trimpey, he adds: “An idea can fail on one or two criteria and still be fairly rational, because rational thought is..nonperfectionistic.”
So an idea that: helps you remain safe and alive, produces feelings you want to have, helps you toward your chosen goal and minimizes conflict with others can be viewed as rational, even if not objectively true.
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