Three Irrational Beliefs ... that I constantly have to fight
September 26, 2011
...
Albert Ellis (1913-2007) was a psychologist,
a devout atheist, and until late in life, openly hostile toward all things
religious. His views on human sexuality were antithetical to the teachings of
Scripture. For those reasons (and because he's dead) he would not be on the
short list of speakers at most pastors retreats, but he does offer some wisdom
and sanity for weary Christian leaders.
Ellis is most widely known for his Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, so
named because it is directed at irrationality. Ellis theorized that much of our
inner turmoil is caused by our tendency to embrace irrational beliefs, which
leads to stress, low self-worth, frustration, conflict, anger, avoidance,
procrastination, diminished productivity, and difficulty in relating to others.
He identified three irrational core beliefs that cause
the most trouble:
#1: "I absolutely MUST, at all times, perform
outstandingly well and win the approval of significant others. If I fail in
these important—and sacred—respects, that is awful and I am a bad, incompetent,
unworthy person, who will probably always fail and deserves to suffer."
#2: "Other people with whom I relate absolutely
MUST, under practically all conditions, treat me nicely, considerately, and
fairly. Otherwise, it is terrible and they are rotten, bad, unworthy people who
will always treat me badly and should be severely punished for acting so
abominably to me."
#3: "The conditions under which I live absolutely
MUST, at practically all times, be favorable, safe, hassle-free, and quickly
and easily enjoyable. If they are not, it's awful and horrible and I can't ever
enjoy myself at all. My life is hardly worth living."
…
David Slagle is pastor of Veritas Church
in Decatur, Georgia.
Copyright © 2012 by the author or Christianity Today
International/Leadership Journal.
