Imagine being upset with gravity. No, I didn’t misspeak. I wasn’t inviting you to imagine being upset at gravity or by gravity, though with it. Perhaps it may be of use to provide some context from the perspective of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT).
REBT theory uses the ABC model to illustrate how when Activating events (“Actions”) occur and people maintain irrational Beliefs about the events, these unhelpful assumptions – and not the actual occurrences – are what create unpleasant cognitive, emotive, bodily sensation, and behavioral Consequences.
In particular, there are four predominate irrational beliefs which people use: demandingness, awfulizing, low frustration tolerance, and global evaluations. Addressing these, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of unhelpful assumptions in order to explore Effective new beliefs.
From a psychological standpoint, people disturb themselves using a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection. Of course, this isn’t to suggest that in the context of the naturalistic or physical world there is no Action-Consequence (A-C) connection.
As an example, if fall off of a ladder (Action), you may sustain an injury (Consequence). Still, if you unhelpfully Believe, “That shouldn’t have happened to me,” then you’ll likely disturb yourself into an angry disposition (Consequence).
Thus, self-upset of this sort correlates with gravity, though it isn’t the case that you’re angry at or by gravity itself. Think about it. Rigidly expecting that the force which attracts a body toward the center of the Earth should somehow not apply to you is irrational.
Of course, gravity is going to function however it does and regardless of whether or not you approve of it. Why else wouldn’t it, because you unproductively believe it shouldn’t be the case?
This silly blogpost is one to which I suspect many people can relate. Whether accidently spilling a beverage, falling off of a ladder, or dropping one’s cellphone into a toilet, gravity works for the overwhelming majority of time here on Earth.
Unhelpfully demanding that it shouldn’t, or that you somehow ought to be the very individual on the planet for which the force of nature mustn’t inconvenience, is absurd. Yet, I suspect that you, others, and I have at some point have been upset with gravity – even if not at or by it.
The process of self-disturbance correlates with gravity though isn’t caused by it. Understanding this distinction, I hope that next time you’re inconvenienced by gravity and use self-disturbing assumptions you’ll instead dispute the nonsense you tell yourself so that you may adapt more effective new beliefs.
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
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Rawpixel.com. (n.d.). Person getting injured by falling down [Image]. Freepik. Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/person-getting-injured-by-falling-down_19069288.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=23&uuid=4a604861-2ebb-4832-8e07-2fac4aabdba0
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