My Thinking is the Problem, Not Reality
Do you believe that the Government, corporations, your husband, or your parents are the problem?
Do you know what is best for them, how they should act, what they should do?
Can you absolutely know how they should act?
Do you know what they are thinking? What their intentions are?
If you said yes, to any of the above questions, you probably have uninvestigated beliefs that are causing you stress.
It is always my thinking that causes me stress and emotional pain, never external reality. It is impossible for reality to cause you pain.
A-B-C, is a mnemonic created by Albert Ellis, the father of Rational Emotive Therapy.
A is reality, B is your beliefs about reality and C is your emotions.
A-B-C is a reminder that reality and your emotions are forever separated by your beliefs. It is not reality that causes your negative emotions; it is your beliefs about reality. Reality cannot directly affect your emotions, you have to interpret reality first.
It is always your thinking about reality that causes you emotional pain, not reality itself.
When I feel stressed, it is my thinking that causes me stress, not my life situation.
