To get better, you have to back it up with action, action, action.
July 26th, 2007
Years ago while browsing the shelves in my library I stumbled upon a gem of a book by noted psychologist Albert Ellis, A Guide to Rational Living.
This was my first exposure to Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (R.E.B.T.) and I was hooked. For the first time I was presented with a clear way out of my “crooked thinking” that had kept me down for so long and for which talk therapy had done little except add to my financial stress.
Sadly Albert Ellis passed away July 24.
If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and read his books. You have to love his Churchillian doggedness in rooting out and correcting faulty thinking.
Some other titles by Ellis:
- How to Stubbornly Refuse to Make Yourself Miserable About Anything — Yes, Anything
- The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression
- How to Make Yourself Happy and Remarkably Less Disturbable
August 24th, 2007 at 12:34 am
Albert Ellis saved me from the cult of the 12 step!
October 30th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
I have been thinking of ordering these books, but I am afraid of them ending up being just one more self help book full of feel good, motivational techniques that don’t really work.
Can you tell me have you read all of these books by ellis and done the workbook or have you only read the first book mentioned in this post?
October 30th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Hi Laura,
They are good books.
They may seem a little dated though. I don’t remember which one I read first but Dr. Ellis talked about how Rational Emotive Therapy works to cure homosexuality! As I remember it was written in the 50’s and if you read it with that in mind I think you’ll find the ‘bone’ of his teaching is still very valid.
There may be newer books that you’ll like more. You may want to just browse the bookstores and flip through some on REBT or cognitive therapy.
Dr. Ellis basically tells you how to look at what it is we tell ourselves, the consequences of this ‘crooked’ thinking, how to argue rationally with yourself and thus change the negative thought patterns and their emotional effects.
It’s not an easy, quick-fix sort of thing but I think it’s definitely worth doing. It’s kind of like running to me; don’t really like doing it at first but after a while it feels better and is just something you do because it helps.
Thanks for your comments.
Good luck,
Cosmo