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The Promise

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The Promise

Never Have a Negative Thought Again

Pearson Education Limited,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

Use this distress-eradication tactic to overhaul negative thinking patterns and have a more fulfilling life.

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Editorial Rating

6

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Concrete Examples

Recommendation

Psychologist, therapist and stress-management consultant, Graham W. Price based his self-help manual on case studies from his therapy practice. He offers life-management strategies and helpful suggestions for anyone trying to offload the self-limiting burden of negative thought patterns, worry, anxiety and fear. Price provides a straightforward, upbeat – though repetitive – approach. He believes that if you follow his four-step “positive acceptance,” or “pacceptance” method, you can change your life for the better. getAbstract recommends Price’s program – which requires commitment – to those interested in self-help and New Age psychological ideas.

Summary

“Positive Acceptance”

Any moment of any day can cause frustration, distress and anger. Small changes in your plans can become irksome all out of proportion to the event. You want to take a bike ride but have a flat tire; you stub your toe on the bathroom door, and the like. The unhappiness of these moments stems from wishing that the past or present would change and become different, right now.

Opposing or ignoring or trying to change past reality is fruitless. Neither the past nor the present could have been any different. Instead of giving way to anxiety and worry, use the four-step positive acceptance, or “pacceptance,” technique for an immediate way to gain control when negative thought patterns arise:

  1. Become aware when you are yearning for something to be “already different.”
  2. Recognize that you are wishing for the unattainable.
  3. Release the unrealistic thought.
  4. Shift your awareness to how you can achieve a more positive outcome in the future.

You cannot simply switch off unproductive thinking. But when you recognize that stewing and negative ruminating serve no purpose, your...

About the Author

Graham W. Price, psychologist, executive coach, trainer and stress-management consultant, developed Acceptance-Action Therapy and Acceptance-Action Training.

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