Guest guest Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Strictly speaking, ACT doesn't endorse them because they're seen as a mostly-ineffective form of argumentation against negative thoughts. On the other hand, If you find they're helping you, there's no reason to stop them. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Is there anything to be said for listening to positive affirmations. Or is it in conflict with ACT. Or is it beneficial to use diffusion connection, expantion aswell as affirmation from time to time.> > > > Or are the affirmations harmful.> > > > Here is the affirmation video I was listening to> > just so you know the type if stuff I am talking about> > > > > Regards,> > A> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Hi Andy, What's your experience with using affirmations? You may want to do your own experiment and see. ACT looks at workability with things as the ultimate sort of " grade " if you will. My experience? Affirmations can be a tricky, even seductive thing..they can work in the short run and not so well in the long run. (And maybe something you've already noticed and therefore are suspicious about). For me it depends on how I use them, the function they're providing for me. If I'm using them to feel good or otherwise cancel out or control discomfort they have a very short half life in my experience. And if I begin to fuse with them, which many people including myself tend to do, then more suffering will likely ensue. If I use them more broadly and lightly as a guide-post for committed goals, as something that helps inspire toward moving forward with valuing behavior, then by all means, I take them along for the ride! Hope that helps a bit. terry > > Is there anything to be said for listening to positive affirmations. Or is it in conflict with ACT. Or is it beneficial to use diffusion connection, expantion aswell as affirmation from time to time. > > Or are the affirmations harmful. > > Here is the affirmation video I was listening to > just so you know the type if stuff I am talking about > > > Regards, > A > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Thanks Jim and all for all your replies.... Food for thought. > > > > > > > > Is there anything to be said for listening to positive affirmations. Or > > is it in conflict with ACT. Or is it beneficial to use diffusion > > connection, expantion aswell as affirmation from time to time. > > > > > > > > Or are the affirmations harmful. > > > > > > > > Here is the affirmation video I was listening to > > > > just so you know the type if stuff I am talking about > > > > > > > > > > > > Regards, > > > > A > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 food for though BUT I will only fuse with the thoughts if they are helpful! > > Is there anything to be said for listening to positive affirmations. Or is it in conflict with ACT. Or is it beneficial to use diffusion connection, expantion aswell as affirmation from time to time. > > Or are the affirmations harmful. > > Here is the affirmation video I was listening to > just so you know the type if stuff I am talking about > > > Regards, > A > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2011 Report Share Posted July 16, 2011 The problem is that affirmations work, but only if you do not really need them.A recent study showed that pretty clearlyWhy?Because if you really need them they are like being used as a weapon against something and voila, there you are into the usual avoidance --> rebound mode.However I think affirmations are fine if they truly affirm.Then they are more like remembering.Think of it this wayYou are a cupYou CONTAIN all things you know about that are good and bad. If affirmations mean I AM or I HAVE only the good, the bad things will scream for attentionIf you say I AM the bad, your ability to live in a vital way is diminishedAffirmations should thus always have this quality I contain all things I know about that are good and bad ... and oh by the way not to subtract the bad things that includes the good thingsI am the cup, not the contents poured into it- S C. Foundation ProfessorDepartment of Psychology /298University of NevadaReno, NV 89557-0062 " Love isn't everything, it's the only thing " hayes@... or stevenchayes@... Fax: Psych Department: Contextual Change (you can use this number for messages if need be): Blogs: Psychology Today http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/get-out-your-mind Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-c-hayes-phdIf you want my vita, publications, PowerPoint slides, try my training page or my blog at the ACBS site: http://www.contextualpsychology.org/steven_hayes http://www.contextualpsychology.org/blog/steven_hayes or you can try my website (it is semi-functional) stevenchayes.comIf you have any questions about ACT or RFT (articles, AAQ information etc), please first check the vast resources at website of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS): www.contextualpsychology.org. You have to register on the site to download things, but the cost if up to your own values. If you are a professional or student and want to be part of the world wide ACT discussion or RFT discussions go to http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/acceptanceandcommitmenttherapy/join orhttp://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/relationalframetheory/joinIf you are a member of the public reading ACT self-help books (e.g., " Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life " etc) and want to be part of the conversation go to: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ACT_for_the_Public/join Is there anything to be said for listening to positive affirmations. Or is it in conflict with ACT. Or is it beneficial to use diffusion connection, expantion aswell as affirmation from time to time. Or are the affirmations harmful. Here is the affirmation video I was listening to just so you know the type if stuff I am talking about Regards, A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2011 Report Share Posted July 16, 2011 Well put, D > I am the cup, not the contents poured into it > > - S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2011 Report Share Posted July 16, 2011 Thanks for these important distinctions. I knew they were helpful somehow, and now that you mention it, why yes, this is precisely their utility! t > > > ** > > > > > > Is there anything to be said for listening to positive affirmations. Or is > > it in conflict with ACT. Or is it beneficial to use diffusion connection, > > expantion aswell as affirmation from time to time. > > > > Or are the affirmations harmful. > > > > Here is the affirmation video I was listening to > > just so you know the type if stuff I am talking about > > > > > > Regards, > > A > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 > Thanks for these important distinctions. The problem is that 99.9999999999% of the population don't know that there's 2 sides to the coin, and there are a lot of vulnerable people out there. I was one of these people 13 years ago while I was having the cancer & brian injury treatment ........ I tried affirmations but I couldn't persist because I knew damn well that it wasn't real. I tried all those types of things ..... But all of those motivational books and sites will continue to print these things because it's what PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR. They want to hear that there's hope. They don't want or can't face the reality. It's too painful, too difficult or they haven't become " aclimatized " / gotten used to " reality " yet. Know what I mean? We're lucky that we're one step ahead ..... iolanda -- Marriage is a great institution – but I don’t want to live in an institution ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Yes, good point, huge problem. And why these nuances are so important to detail. I have seen this problem too all over our culture-- with individuals, with large groups, with entire organizations--all which essentially identify and fuse with slogans, platitudes, affirmations. There is a sobriety program called WFS that sprung up in the late part of last century and is a good deal about positive thinking and has a list of affirmations or statements for members to adhere to and practice every day. In fact one of them reads: " I am my thoughts " . For reference, see here: http://www.ajpip.com/addictions/statements.htm Absolutely no longer affirming if you feel as though you really need them--and yet that's sadly the place from which most affirmations are tapped into. And it happens sometimes rather slowly, the eroding of effectiveness and my, how we hold on to what doesn't work anyway, because " one time it did " ! I can see where even those statements in WFS from an ACT perspective might be useful, although I don't know I'd recommend them now to anyone suffering with addiction. With self as context and the other processes in play, finding as Steve noted it's an entirely different ball of wax. In fact, I'd have to say almost everything is different for me now. And I'm just an infant with this work. I get so caught up in the noise of my mind that along with doing meditative work, I am giving affirmations another go at it as quick, gentle reminders, cues for behavioral goals and values. Really only an extension of and in support of values, like a whisper from friend. Will report back as to how useful they are for anyone curious. terry > > > > Thanks for these important distinctions. > > The problem is that 99.9999999999% of the population don't know that there's 2 sides to > the coin, and there are a lot of vulnerable people out there. > > I was one of these people 13 years ago while I was having the cancer & brian injury > treatment ........ I tried affirmations but I couldn't persist because I knew damn well > that it wasn't real. I tried all those types of things ..... > > But all of those motivational books and sites will continue to print these things because > it's what PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR. They want to hear that there's hope. They don't want or > can't face the reality. It's too painful, too difficult or they haven't become > " aclimatized " / gotten used to " reality " yet. > > Know what I mean? > > We're lucky that we're one step ahead ..... > > iolanda > > -- > Marriage is a great institution – but I don't want to live in an institution ;-) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Thanks your reply was very helpful to me, It's makes sense to me that we have to except the good and the bad, they are all part of me. I suppose some affirmation practices can set one up for a struggle against reality. Cheers, Andy > > > ** > > > > > > Is there anything to be said for listening to positive affirmations. Or is > > it in conflict with ACT. Or is it beneficial to use diffusion connection, > > expantion aswell as affirmation from time to time. > > > > Or are the affirmations harmful. > > > > Here is the affirmation video I was listening to > > just so you know the type if stuff I am talking about > > > > > > Regards, > > A > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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