Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy emphasizes three forms of acceptance: unconditional self-acceptance, unconditional other acceptance, and unconditional life acceptance. It is essential to recognize the importance of cultivating unconditional life acceptance. Unconditional life acceptance may be the form of acceptance least spoken of in REBT. Unconditional life acceptance is the antidote for self-pity, depression, anger, and … Read more

People who develop their potential and enjoy healthy relationships with others are open to criticism. Constructive criticism is valuable for personal growth. Those who listen to it with an open mind and then learn from it tend to grow more fully than those who are closed off and defensive to assessments by others. Rejecting all … Read more

In my clinical work with my patients, I have seen that many people wish to become competent or experts at different tasks. Generally speaking, there are two groups of people. One group of people repeatedly do the very thing they wish to learn to do well. They try and fail, try and fail, and then … Read more

  Benjamin Franklin said, “Time waits for no one.” Everyone faces time-related challenges. Humans easily disturb themselves about time, making themselves less efficient in utilizing this precious resource. Failing to use your time well is self-defeating; upsetting yourself for wasting time leads to inefficient use of time, undermining your goals. Time only goes forward, and you do … Read more

Life is a never-ending series of problems. Like leaves floating down a stream, as soon as one problem is behind you, it is not long before you face a new adversity. My loving mother often told me as a child, “Sometimes when it rains, it pours,” and encouraged me to accept the challenge and cultivate the skill … Read more

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is a system of ideas you can apply to achieve desired emotional and behavioral change. Long-term goals that aim to boost life satisfaction require effort sustained over time. I like to think of sustained effort over time as the power of perseverance. Achieving a long-term goal is a process. One needs to … Read more

I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it. Pablo Picasso  In Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), we encourage people to risk failing at goals and dreams. In many ways, it is good to fail. When we fail, we have attempted to do something that … Read more

I made a prosperous voyage when I suffered a shipwreck. Zeno of Citium youtu.be/0QI_tzaiJRI?si=JTIQdBduBuLCoGlU Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, REBT, is a system of ideas aimed at helping you bear adversity. REBT encourages you to change what you can as you see fit, but sadly, there is much in life you cannot change. The philosophical solution … Read more

Keep reminding yourself of this simple insight from REBT: I am too smart to anger myself. I have had my eyes opened to the fact that life conditions and other people’s actions do not have to conform to my wishes. I will choose to feel deeply disappointed and move on.

I often describe Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) as a system of ideas for facing life’s most difficult challenges. It is a philosophy of life and a distinct form of cognitive behavior therapy. I wish to highlight the integration and synergistic effect of particular core concepts of REBT. In addition to writing about how these … Read more