Facts or Opinions?

This little exercise below will help you differentiate between fact and opinion. It is important to be able to distinguish between your own opinions and facts.

The list below contains fifteen statements provided by Positive Psychology as a standardize list. Mark each one either fact or opinion:

 • I am a failure.

 • I’m uglier than him/her.

 • I said “no” to a friend in need.

 • A friend in need said “no” to me.

 • I suck at everything.

 • I yelled at my partner.

 • I can’t do anything right.

 • He said some hurtful things to me.

 • She didn’t care about hurting me.

 • This will be an absolute disaster.

 • I’m a bad person.

 • I said things I regret.

 • I’m shorter than him.

 • I am not loveable.

 • I’m selfish and uncaring.

 • Everyone is a way better person than I am.

 • Nobody could ever love me.

 • I am overweight for my height.

 • I ruined the evening.

 • I failed my exam.

STOP and actually mark each one False if it is OPINION and True if it is a Fact. No looking at the answers until you have decided.

Practicing making this distinction between fact and opinion can improve your ability to quickly differentiate between the two when you get stuck in your own thoughts.

Check your answers here:

Answers:

1. I am a failure. False

2. I’m uglier than him/her. False

3. I said “no” to a friend in need. True

4. A friend in need said “no” to me. True

5. I suck at everything. False

6. I yelled at my partner. True

7. I can’t do anything right. False

8. He said some hurtful things to me. True

9. She didn’t care about hurting me. False

10. This will be an absolute disaster. False

11. I’m a bad person. False

12. I said things I regret. True

13. I’m shorter than him. True

14. I am not loveable. False

15. I’m selfish and uncaring. False

16. Everyone is a way better person than I am. False

17. Nobody could ever love me. False

18. I am overweight for my height. True

19. I ruined the evening. False

20. I failed my exam. True