I can’t stand it!
 We say that nothing is awful, nothing. Rape, i
ncest, terrorism, Hitler-it isn’t awful. Not that they aren’t bad, but a rational person would recognize that the world is inherently unfair.”
Albert Ellis, Ph.D. … Founder of REBT To which, JvB adds . . .
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To which JvB adds: “Awfulizing makes horrors out of inconveniences. It turns discomfort and pain into torture. Misfortune transforms into abject misery. Even those things that are really truly awful become AWFUL!!!. And that which is AWFUL!!! becomes AWFUL!!! times 10. There is nothing so bad that awfulizing can’t make infinitely worse.”
To which Rex sez: I think we can effective argue that, as Dr. Ellis says, nothing is awful. And this is a stimulating and meaningful argument. However, I think many clients get lost is this philosophical/semantic discussion forgetting that it has practical consequences for all or most of us on a daily basis. Forget whether terrorism is “truly” awful. We can be pretty damn sure that while 1. getting stuck in traffic is highly inconvenient any annoying, it is NOT the end of the world, it is not horrible and awful, only damned annoying. And 2. Telling ourselves that getting stuck in traffic is awful inflames the already annoying feeling into a higher level of frustration and anger making a bad situation even worse. If this is a habitual pattern, you have someone who is chronically upset over the daily foibles of being alive.
Rex gives it 5 out of 5 hearts!
Originally posted 2018-12-07 22:16:49.
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Rex is a blogger, REBT coach and founder of the REBTraining.com / REBTinfo.com website, admin and regular contributor to the REBTraining Facebook Group
Contact: Rex@REBTinfo.com
Contact: Rex@REBTinfo.com
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