ACT willingly

1. We learn to think relationally; 2. which works instrumentally; 3. but increases our access to pain, and causes misery when applied to our own insides. 4. You cannot rein in this kind of judgment judgmentally, 5. but you can learn to do so mindfully, with resulting broad and deep benefits, especially when it is part of a pattern of values-based action. Hayes, Steven C & Plumb, Jennifer C. (2007). Mindfulness from the bottom up: Providing an inductive framework for under

If committed to both honest self-advocacy and being loving, there is a manner of communication which accords with both those values. It's an efficient form of communicating because expressing your own observations and needs in the situation, and keeping yourself from being entangled in thoughts and emotion, are the keys to loving exchange with your partner. #relationships #acceptanceandcommitmenttherapyact

"It's time for us to put down the idea that we have to think well of ourselves at all times to be mature, successful, functional, mentally healthy individuals. Indeed, this toxic idea can foster a kind of narcissistic ego-based self-story that is bound to blow up on us. Instead of increasing self-esteem content what we need to do is increase self-compassion as the context of all we do. That deflates ego-based self-stories, as we humbly accept our place as one amongst our fell

...There cannot be right or wrong values because, by definition, your values are how you are evaluating your own behavior. Values are the ruler. ...Feelings are not good guides for behavior...If you chose to be a loving partner but decide to be loving only when feelings of love for your partner were present, what would happen? You probably would be a pretty terrible partner. Part of being a partner is showing up when things are decidedly not pleasant, when feelings of love ar

Some of the comments posted to this video are funny. One of my favourites is, "Yep, lock the door and he comes through the window, lock the window and he jumps the fence..." It's funny because it's true! The video is titled as an ACT metaphor though it may not be clear. Controlling Brian is a metaphor for controlling unwanted thoughts and feelings. That struggle for control will inevitably fail. Brian is a window-climbing, fence-jumping, determined creature. The struggle to

Steven Hayes, one of the founders of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) explains how understanding the processes of psychological flexibility which ACT targets, is important outside the therapeutic setting: "anywhere that a human mind goes, these processes go." #acceptanceandcommitmenttherapyact

The "acceptance" in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is not about condoning mistreatment; it isn't about resignation; it isn't about wallowing: acceptance is about openness to experience. Acceptance is about being willing to experience ourselves fully, to experience pleasure and pain so that censoring our thoughts and emotions does not take away from investing energy and effort in value-driven action. #acceptanceandcommitmenttherapyact #suppressingthoughtsandfeelings