Perfection' is man's ultimate illusion. It simply doesn't exist in the universe.... If you are a perfectionist, you are guaranteed to be a loser in whatever you do.
ALL-OR-NOTHING THINKING: You see things in black-and-white categories. If your performance falls short of perfect, you see yourself as a total failure.
Because of your twisted thinking, you see yourself in a trap from which there seems to be no escape. You jump to the conclusion that your problems are insoluble. Because your suffering feels unbearabl...
Achievements can bring you satisfaction but not happiness.
The secret of successful treatment is not to become a perfect, shining star or to learn to be in complete control of your feelings. These strategies are doomed to failure. In contrast, when you accept...
No one has a moral or legal obligation to credit me for my cleverness or praise my good efforts on their behalf.
Ask people for suggestions on how to improve, and if they're going to reject you for being imperfect, let them do it and get it over with.
Every time you feel depressed about something, try to identify a corresponding negative thought you had just prior to and during the depression. Because these thoughts have actually created your bad m...
Table 3–1. Definitions of Cognitive Distortions 1. ALL-OR-NOTHING THINKING: You see things in black-and-white categories. If your performance falls short of perfect, you see yourself as a total failur...
Some encouraging studies suggest that the answer may be yes. Dr. Isaac Marks, from the Institute of Psychiatry at the University of London, has shown that many individuals can overcome anxiety disorde...
Much everyday anger results when we confuse our own personal wants with general moral codes.
In my experience the most crucial predictor of recovery is a persistent willingness to exert some effort to help yourself. Given this attitude, you will succeed.
In addition, we still do not really know how the brain creates emotions. We do not know why some people are more prone to negative thinking and gloomy moods throughout their lives, whereas others seem...
Golden opportunity to learn to cope with criticism and anger effectively. This came as a complete surprise to me; I hadn't realized what good fortune I had. In addition to urging me to use cognitive t...
One of the most important tasks of any therapist is to help depressed patients find the courage and determination to resist and fight these hopeless feelings. This battle is often fierce and rarely ea...
Many research studies, as well as my own clinical experience, have confirmed that severely depressed patients who appear very biologically depressed with lots of physical symptoms often respond rapidl...
Jeffrey discovered that the truth was the opposite of what he’d always believed. He’d always tried to keep his weaknesses and vulnerabilities hidden because he thought they were so shameful. But in sp...
It would be nice if I could make my wife happy now because she seems upset. I can ask what she's upset about and see if there might be a way I could help. Or instead of I shouldn't have eaten the ice...
For example, when a loved one dies, you validly think, I lost him (or her), and I will miss the companionship and love we shared. The feelings such a thought creates are tender, realistic, and desirab...