Thread: CBT and REBT
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Old 04-30-2005, 09:19 PM
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Re: CBT and REBT
Quote:
When you feel something, like "I'm a moron..." and try to replace with a "rational response", it's a very unnatural thing to do, IMO.

The next time you make a negative comment to yourself, don't try to replace it with a rational justification. Instead just let your feelings (what your words are trying to describe) express itself. I do not mean you should accentuate your emotions , but just let it hang in the air. Do not make judgements about what feelings are bad and what feelings are good.

Just acknowledge your feelings.
Don't try and replace it with anything. Don't confirm your feelings or make encourage it. Just notice it's there and see what happens.

Soon, you should feel a certain kind of calmness that is very pleasant. This leaves you the mental resources needed to focus on the task at hand.

Using logic and rationality against your emotions clutters the mind. If you really want to think about it, do so off the course.

I hope this doesn't sound like a load of psycho-babble!
No man, not psycho babble at all. I'm a hardcore perfectionist...I wanna be in the zone all the time and generally want to fullfil my full potential as much as I can. That's a really good thing in general, I just can't turn it off turn it off sometimes.

I start to engage my thinking mind and figure out everything and change myself. I'm always looking for some kind of plan with steps I can put into use when things are not going well...I just seem to have this need for regimented control. It's weird tho cause I'm prolly the most easy-going guy ever. I'm not one of those drill sergeant hardasses.

I have had to learn that engaging the thinking part of my mind will not ever solve anything or control anything...what I'm seeking is absolute control, really. All it does is get me stressed out and makes me feel like I'm even less in control.

I now just try to, like you said, acknowledge what is happening, accept it, and move on...don't even engage in thinking to try and solve the problem. Patience.

Your post is a great one man.
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