When you learn REBT and apply the ABC model of emotion to understand your self-defeating reactions, you will see how flexible and non-extreme attitudes will lead to healthier responses to life’s adversities. One obstacle you may encounter is transitioning from intellectual insight to fundamental emotional change about the adversity you face. In REBT, the goal is to help you … Read more
REBT is a therapy, a system of interlocking ideas, a philosophy to help people cope with life’s challenges and maximize pleasure while minimizing pain. In my work, teaching people to use REBT to address something they are avoiding doing, which implicitly or explicitly will be good for them to do, I bring up the issue … Read more
REBT is a system of ideas for facing life’s challenges. It’s a tool that helps you identify and modify your self-defeating reactions while instilling specific values. But it’s more than just about survival-REBT is about thriving in a challenging world and finding greater happiness and meaning in your life. Who is Responsible for Your Emotional … Read more
Loss and facing unfavorable change are an inherent part of the human experience. We all face the possibility of losing jobs, relationships, bodily functions, and even the familiarities of our neighborhoods and cultures, which evolve and change in ways not necessarily to our liking. We even lose treasured items to breakage, theft, and destruction. Adding … Read more
“Look, being offended is a choice. You have to make a choice to be offended. I chose not to be offended.” “Being hurt is not a productive emotion.” Tom Selleck (Actor) Occasionally, some celebrities model ideas, attitudes, and philosophies consistent with Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). This fact is not a surprise because Albert Ellis, … Read more
Summary of Video: Constructing complete, foundational, healthy attitudes with two components is best. The first component is your asserted preference, followed by negating your demand. For example, I want you to treat me nicely (an asserted preference), but sadly, you may not do so. You do not have to treat me nicely (negated demand). Constructing complete, … Read more
Summary: The philosophical message of REBT is that reality never has to be how you want it to be. People resist this message and give various reasons for perfuming the rigid attitudes that lead to their self-defeating emotional disturbance. REBT shows them that the evidence is clear that reality never has to be what we … Read more
Summary: Discipline your mind to avoid confusing empirically supported natural laws with recommendations, preferences, and good ideas. Confusing one of your preferences as a natural law that you and others must follow will likely lead to emotional disturbance when your preferences are unmet. Seek to take your rigid, dogmatic, anti-scientific ideas and transform them … Read more
Summary: Start by identifying what is under your control. Focus first on you and then on the external situation. Work inside out. Look for rigid and extreme attitudes, e.g., You must do what I think is right. It is awful if you disagree with me and do it your way. Challenge your rigid and extreme … Read more
Intolerance is a global issue, not confined to any one nation. It manifests in various forms and is directed at different targets, leading to divisions among family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Even before the recent assassination attempt on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, a longstanding personal concern of mine is the inability of my fellow … Read more
