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1. The idea that it is a dire necessity for adults to be loved by significant others for almost everything they do--
Instead of their concentrating on their own self-respect, on winning
approval for practical purposes, and on loving rather than on
being loved.
2. The idea that certain acts are awful or wicked, and that people who perform such acts should be severely damned --
Instead of the idea that certain acts are self-defeating or antisocial,
and that people who perform such acts are behaving stupidly, ignorantly,
or neurotically, and would be better helped to change. People's
poor behaviors do not make them rotten individuals.
3. The idea that it is horrible when things are not the way we like them to be--
Instead of the idea that it is too bad, that we would better try to change
or control bad conditions so that they become more satisfactory, and,
if that is not possible, we had better temporarily accept and gracefully
lump their existence.
4. The idea that human misery is invariably externally caused and is forced on us by outside people and events
Instead of the idea that neurosis is largely caused by the view that
we take of unfortunate conditions.
5. The idea that if something is or may be dangerous or fearsome we should be terribly upset and endlessly obsess about it--
Instead of the idea that one would better frankly face it and render it
non-dangerous and, when that is not possible, accept the inevitable.
6. The idea that it is easier to avoid than to face life difficulties and self-responsibilities --
Instead of the idea that the so-called easy way is usually
much harder in the long run.
7. The idea that we absolutely need something other or stronger or greater than ourself on which to rely --
Instead of the idea that it is better to take the risks of
thinking and acting less dependently.
8. The idea that we should be thoroughly competent, intelligent, and achieving in all possible respects --
Instead of the idea that we would better do rather than always need
to do well, and accept ourself as a quite imperfect creature, who has
general human limitations and specific fallibilities.
9. The idea that because something once strongly affected our life, it should indefinitely affect it --
Instead of the idea that we can learn from our past experiences but
not be overly-attached to or prejudiced by them.
10. The idea that we must have certain and perfect control over things --
Instead of the idea that the world is full of improbability and chance and
that we can still enjoy life despite this.
11. The idea that human happiness can be achieved by inertia and inaction --
Instead of the idea that we tend to be happiest when we are vitally absorbed
in creative pursuits, or when we are devoting ourselves to people or
projects outside ourselves.
12. The idea that we have virtually no control over our emotions and that we cannot help feeling disturbed about things --
Instead of the idea that we have real control over our destructive emotions
if we choose to work at changing the “musturbatory” hypotheses which
we often employ to create them.
MORE on replacing your Irrational Beliefs with Rational Beliefs >>
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