Who is The G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) of April Fools Day Pranks?
- DeBarra Karl
- Mar 29
- 5 min read
When you think of April Fool’s Day, who comes to mind as the ultimate prankster?
Is it your kids plotting with suspiciously hushed voices?That friend who always has a prank up their sleeve, the one who always takes it too far?Your partner who replaced your toothpaste with mayonnaise last year and still laughs about it?
Maybe you even glance at your dog with a side-eye, wondering if they’re smarter than they let on.
But what if the most consistent, most cunning prankster isn’t someone "out there" — but someone "in here"?Yes, we’re talking about your own mind.
The Ultimate Trickster Is... You (Well, Your Brain)
Just like Messi didn’t become the G.O.A.T. of football by accident, the mind doesn’t become the G.O.A.T. of pranks overnight. It practises. It repeats. It hones its skills. And the more we fall for its tricks, the better it gets at playing them.
The difference is, these pranks aren’t funny. They’re subtle, persistent, and often harmful. They show up as self-doubt, fear, procrastination, perfectionism—all those moments when we think we’re just “being realistic,” but really, we’re being fooled.
So what exactly are these mental pranks?
In the world of psychotherapy—especially Cognitive Behavioural Therapy—we call them cognitive distortions: distorted ways of thinking that warp how we perceive ourselves, others, and the world.
But before we dive into those, let’s look at where they start.
So What Are Automatic Thoughts?
Every day, moment by moment, our brains produce automatic thoughts—quick, reflexive interpretations of what’s happening around us. These thoughts are a completely normal part of how we process the world. They help us make sense of situations quickly and efficiently, often without us even noticing.
Some automatic thoughts are neutral or helpful, like “I need to grab my keys” or “That was a kind gesture.” But others can become negative automatic thoughts, and that’s where things get tricky.
Negative automatic thoughts tend to pop up in response to stress, perceived failure, or uncomfortable emotions. They are often distorted, overly critical, or catastrophising—and they tend to go unquestioned.
“I’m not good at this.”
“They must think I’m annoying.”
“I’ll never get through this.”
These thoughts, when left unchecked, can lead to harmful emotional and behavioural cycles. They affect not just how we feel emotionally, but also how we behave and even how we feel physically.
Negative automatic thoughts are not facts.
Just because you think something doesn’t make it true. But because these thoughts happen so fast and feel so familiar, we often believe them—especially when we’re stressed, tired, or feeling low.
Where do they come from?
They’re often shaped by past experiences, core beliefs, and long-held assumptions. For example:
Someone who grew up being criticised may default to “I’m not good enough” even in supportive environments.
A person who was frequently left out may jump to “I don’t belong” in social settings, even when they’re included.
Why do they matter?
Because negative automatic thoughts often carry cognitive distortions. They’re not just fast—they’re often inaccurate. And when we don’t learn to spot and challenge them, they can quietly dictate how we see ourselves and others, how we feel in our bodies, and how we move through the world.
Now, let’s meet some of the mind’s most convincing (but misleading) tricks.?
Every day, moment by moment, our brains produce automatic thoughts—quick, reflexive interpretations of what’s happening around us. They’re like mental pop-ups:
“I’m not good at this.”
“They must think I’m annoying.”
“I’ll never get through this.”
These thoughts happen so fast that we often don’t even notice them—but they’re incredibly powerful. They influence how we feel, how we behave, and what we believe about ourselves, and the world.
Automatic thoughts are not facts.
Just because you think something doesn’t mean it’s true. But because they’re so fast and familiar, we tend to take them at face value—especially when we’re stressed, tired, or triggered.
Where do they come from?
They’re often shaped by past experiences, core beliefs, and long-held assumptions. For example:
Someone who grew up being criticised may default to “I’m not good enough” even in supportive environments.
A person who was frequently left out may jump to “I don’t belong” in social settings, even if that’s no longer true.
Why do they matter?
Because automatic thoughts often carry cognitive distortions. They’re not just quick—they’re often inaccurate. And when we don’t challenge them, they can shape our moods, choices, and relationships.
So let’s take a look at some of the tricks that our mind can play on us.
The Mind’s Greatest Pranks – A.K.A. Cognitive Distortions
1. All-or-Nothing Thinking
Seeing things in extremes—either a total success or a complete failure.Example: “If I don’t do it perfectly, I’ve completely failed.”
2. Catastrophizing
Expecting the worst-case scenario, no matter how unlikely.Example: “If I mess this up, I’ll lose everything.”
3. Overgeneralization
Drawing sweeping conclusions from a single event.Example: “That didn’t go well. Nothing ever goes right for me.”
4. Mental Filtering
Focusing only on the negatives, ignoring the positives.Example: “Everyone said nice things about how I performed, however, one person looked unhappy. I must have been awful.”
5. Discounting the Positive
Minimising good experiences or accomplishments.Example: “They said I did a good job, but they were just being nice.”
6. Mind Reading
Assuming you know what others are thinking—usually something negative.Example: “She didn’t reply—she must be annoyed with me.”
7. Fortune Telling
Predicting failure or disaster as if it's guaranteed.Example: “There’s no point trying. It’s not going to work out anyway.”
8. Emotional Reasoning
Believing something is true because you feel it strongly.Example: “I feel like a failure, so I must be one.”
9. Personalization
Assuming things are your fault, or that others’ actions are about you.Example: “They looked upset. I must have done something wrong.”
10. Labeling
Reducing yourself to one negative identity based on a mistake.Example: “I forgot something—I’m such an idiot.”
How to Challenge Cognitive Distortions (Without Starting an Argument With Your Brain)
Awareness is the first step. But to truly weaken these patterns, we need to examine them, question them, and practise more flexible thinking.
1. Examine the Evidence
Ask: What supports this thought? What contradicts it?
“I always mess things up.”
Realistically: “I’ve made mistakes, but I also get things right.”
2. Consider Alternative Explanations
Ask: What else could be going on?
“They didn’t reply because they’re annoyed.”
Or: “Maybe they’re busy, tired, or just forgot.”
3. Put the Thought on Trial
Cross-examine the thought like a courtroom case.
“If I fail, everyone will think I’m incompetent.”
Challenge: “Have I failed before? Did everyone judge me?”
4. Use the Friend Test
Ask: Would I say this to a friend?
“I failed. I’m useless.”
What you’d tell a friend: “You had a tough day. That doesn’t define you.”
5. Practise Thought Diffusion
Create distance from the thought.
“I’m a failure” becomes “I’m having the thought that I’m a failure.”
Try picturing the thought like a bus passing on a road — it's there, noticeable, but not something you have to chase or jump into.
6. Track the Pattern
Use a thought diary:
Situation
Automatic thought
Emotion
Distortion
Balanced alternative
Over time, you’ll spot patterns and can learn to shift how you respond.
In Conclusion: Don’t Let the G.O.A.T. Fool You
Your brain is clever. Too clever, sometimes. When it’s in prank mode, it can shape your thoughts in ways that feel convincing but are not rooted in truth.
You’re not weak for falling into these patterns. You’re human. But with awareness, practice, and a little humour, you can learn to spot the trick and rewrite the script.
So this April Fool’s Day, if you want to catch the G.O.A.T. of pranks in action, you may not need to look too far. Just pause… and listen to what your mind is telling you. Then, gently ask: “Is that really true—or is my brain just having a laugh?”
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