Irrational Beliefs

Modified: 2020-04-23

In cognitive-behavioral therapy, much effort is devoted to the elimination of irrational beliefs. Below is a list of some representative irrational beliefs. Do you recognize any of them in yourself?
  1. You must have love and approval nearly all the time from people who are important to you.
  2. You must be completely competent in all your endeavors, or you must have real expertise or talent in something important.
  3. Life must go the way you want it to. Things are awful when you don't get your first choices.
  4. Other people should treat everyone fairly. When people are unfair or unethical, they are horrible and rotten and are to be punished or avoided.
  5. People and things should turn out better than they do turn out. It's awful and terrible when quick solutions to life's hassles are not forthcoming.
  6. Your past is a strong influence on your behavior and must continue to affect you and determine your behavior.
  7. You can find happiness by inertia, inactivity, or passivity.
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