Sometimes, in order to move forward, we need to recognize that something we have always assumed to be true and accepted as a fact may need re-examination, and may not be true.
This exercise focuses on some of our irrational or unrealistic assumptions about ourselves and others, and how these assumptions can affect our feelings and emotions.
Emotional Consequences of Irrational Assumptions
Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck founded the cognitive behavioural therapy approach, which focuses on irrational assumptions or 'negative self-talk' about ourselves and the world we live in. Examples of irrational assumptions are:
"Everyone should treat me with respect."
"Things must always go exactly the way I want them to go, or life is just awful."
Ellis and Beck's approach is designed to help people become aware of their own hidden and irrational assumptions. This approach teaches people to recognize and challenge these assumptions, so that they can adapt more realistic, positive assumptions about themselves and other people.
Three of the sentences below are common unrealistic assumptions that can cause problems for people and make them feel bad about themselves.
Choose the 2 sentences that are irrational assumptions.
