How Does Your Mind Hook You?
The human mind is excellent at telling stories which we get hooked on, believing that they are instructions for living our life, rather than just being thoughts and feelings to observe. Action and Commitment Therapy (ACT) provides tools to unhook ourselves from such stories.
The stories our mind sends us may include thoughts, beliefs, ideas, attitudes, assumptions, opinions, judgements and narratives that we carry with us like a rule book for life. Of course if these ‘rules for life’ are in line with our values and, help us to live a fulfilling life, then all is well, but all too often we get hooked by things our mind tells us that move us away from the life we would like to lead.
In his best selling book The Happiness Trap, Dr. Russ Harris points out that there are many types of story we can get hooked on, but he provides four key categories:
- Judgements – what judgements does your mind make about yourself, others and the world around you?
- Time Travelling – what stories from your past, painful or otherwise, does your mind try and hook you with?
- Reason Giving – what are the reasons your mind gives you as to why you can’t or shouldn’t do the things that are important to you?
- Rules – what are the rules that your mind insists you follow in terms of how you live your life, what you and others should and shouldn’t?
What Has Your Mind Hooked You With?
Make a list of all the things your mind tells you that you’ve become hooked on. How many of them are holding you back from living the life you really want and how many are helping you move towards that life?
If you’d like to know more about Action and & Commitment Therapy, contact us today.