Download - tug-of-war script 15-1 - Third Wave Psychotherapy you and the monster, is a huge, apparently bottomless, pit. It may often feel like your problems are overwhelming. At those times,

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AcceptanceandCommitmentTherapyTug-of-WarMetaphorScript

Supposeyouareplayingtug-of-warwithamonster.Themonsterisametaphorforthebasicfactthatproblemsexistinyourlife.Itmayrepresentdepression,feelingsofshame,physicalpain,oranythingelse.Betweenyouandthemonster,isahuge,apparentlybottomless,pit.Itmayoftenfeellikeyourproblemsareoverwhelming.Atthosetimes,youmightfeellikethemonsterisgoingtopullyouintothepitanditwillbe“gameover.”Youalsomightthinkthatifyoucouldpullontherope,justtherightway,thenyoucouldpullthemonsterintothepit.Thenyouwouldnothaveanyproblemsanymore!Wouldn’tthatbeawesome?

Ashardasyoutry,though,itjustseemsimpossibletopullthemonsterintothepit.Youtrycoilingtheropearoundyourhandsanddiggingyourfeetintothegroundbetterinordertotryevenhardertopullthemonsterintothepit,butitjustdoesn’twork.



Whydoesn'titwork?Because,aswehavetalkedabout,perhapsthereisnosuchthingasalifethatdoesn’tinvolveproblems.Andinthemeanwhile,offinanotherdirectionliesthethingsthatareimportanttoyou-yourvalues.Youfeelthedeepdesiretomovetowardswhatisimportanttoyou,butifyoudothat,youworrythatthemonsterwillcomeafteryou.Thepitisdeep,butnotsowidethatthemonstercan’tjumpoveritandbotheryou.So,aslongasyoufeeltheneedtotugontherope,youcan’tmovetowardsthethingsthatmattertoyou.So,whatdoyoudo?That’sright,youdroptherope.

Whatdoesthatmeanreally?Ifyouletgooftherope,themonstercannowwanderaroundfreely.Theproblemsthatyouface,especiallythingslikeworries, negative thoughts, and other negative emotions, feel scary, but can they actually harm you? No.



So, letting go of the rope means letting things like thingslikeworries, negative thoughts, and other negative emotions show up and do whatever they do while you move toward what is important to you.

Download - tug-of-war script 15-1 - Third Wave Psychotherapy you and the monster, is a huge, apparently bottomless, pit. It may often feel like your problems are overwhelming. At those times,

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