- The document uses a metaphor of an unwanted guest at the door to illustrate how people typically develop different relationships with positive and negative experiences.
- With positive experiences, people are welcoming and let them in. But with negative experiences, people try to avoid them by not allowing them in, suppressing or ignoring them.
- This avoidance of negative experiences can cause problems like missing valuable information from emotions, not developing the ability to handle difficult emotions, and creating additional suffering from fighting the emotions.
- The exercise suggests cultivating acceptance of both positive and negative experiences by being willing to open the door and let both kinds of "guests" in without avoidance or suppression.
Out of four Style of communication or behavioral choice viz Direct Aggression(bossy , arrogant , bulldozing , intolerant ,opionated ,overbearing),Indirect Aggression(sarcastic , deceiving , ambiguous ,insinuating ,manipulative ,guilt inducing),Submissive( Wailing , moaning , helpless , passive ,indecisive , apologetic),Assertive(direct ,honest, accepting , responsible ,spontaneous ) recognizes our right, respect right of others, ensures responsibility for ourselves and our action without judging or blaming other people and finally enables les us to Constructively confront and find mutually satisfying solution if conflict exist
Out of four Style of communication or behavioral choice viz Direct Aggression(bossy , arrogant , bulldozing , intolerant ,opionated ,overbearing),Indirect Aggression(sarcastic , deceiving , ambiguous ,insinuating ,manipulative ,guilt inducing),Submissive( Wailing , moaning , helpless , passive ,indecisive , apologetic),Assertive(direct ,honest, accepting , responsible ,spontaneous ) recognizes our right, respect right of others, ensures responsibility for ourselves and our action without judging or blaming other people and finally enables les us to Constructively confront and find mutually satisfying solution if conflict exist
Overcoming Negative Thinking and Thoughts , EmpowermentSandy Singh
Our specialty is Mind/Body Alignment, therapy, books and resources, workshops for creating better habits, building your support developing effective communication, and rethinking stress. www.shannontranphd.com
The impact of negative thoughts and negative thinking on our lives is far more harmful than we knew. Discover where negative thoughts and negative thinking comes from and what you can do to stop your mind from racing endlessly into sickness.
Giving is one of the proven ways to increase your feelings of happiness & satisfaction with life. But not all giving practices are the same. Find the giving practice that fits your personality type.
Overcoming Negative Thinking and Thoughts , EmpowermentSandy Singh
Our specialty is Mind/Body Alignment, therapy, books and resources, workshops for creating better habits, building your support developing effective communication, and rethinking stress. www.shannontranphd.com
The impact of negative thoughts and negative thinking on our lives is far more harmful than we knew. Discover where negative thoughts and negative thinking comes from and what you can do to stop your mind from racing endlessly into sickness.
Giving is one of the proven ways to increase your feelings of happiness & satisfaction with life. But not all giving practices are the same. Find the giving practice that fits your personality type.
What Is Passive Aggressive Behavior.pdfChloe Cheney
Passive aggressive people are often at risk of hurting others. Let's study common passive aggressive examples and crucial signs of passive aggressive behavior
This slideshow outlines how to forgive someone who has wronged you in the past. Moreover, we will talk about how to use Positive Intention to understand the potential reasons why this person did what they did, and how to use this understanding to let go of your resentment towards that other person. In the Seishindo way of thinking, holding resentment towards someone really doesn’t help us in our daily lives and can actually be detrimental in living a healthy and positive lifestyle.
This is an outline of our podcast called "How to forgive someone". To hear the complete audio file, go to: http://seishindo.org/forgive-someone/
In this session, you will be learning about Judgements.
By judging ourselves we ignore the endless complexity of a situation. Judgments can be directed inwards to our own feelings and outwards to other people.
Judgement means we focus on only one half of the coin good or bad
Forgiving Unfair...mapping a way to peace. Forgiveness is a practice not a single act. This PowerPoint will hopefully guide you to have a better understanding of forgiveness and how it makes the world a better place.
Global launch of the Healthy Ageing and Prevention Index 2nd wave – alongside...ILC- UK
The Healthy Ageing and Prevention Index is an online tool created by ILC that ranks countries on six metrics including, life span, health span, work span, income, environmental performance, and happiness. The Index helps us understand how well countries have adapted to longevity and inform decision makers on what must be done to maximise the economic benefits that comes with living well for longer.
Alongside the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva on 28 May 2024, we launched the second version of our Index, allowing us to track progress and give new insights into what needs to be done to keep populations healthier for longer.
The speakers included:
Professor Orazio Schillaci, Minister of Health, Italy
Dr Hans Groth, Chairman of the Board, World Demographic & Ageing Forum
Professor Ilona Kickbusch, Founder and Chair, Global Health Centre, Geneva Graduate Institute and co-chair, World Health Summit Council
Dr Natasha Azzopardi Muscat, Director, Country Health Policies and Systems Division, World Health Organisation EURO
Dr Marta Lomazzi, Executive Manager, World Federation of Public Health Associations
Dr Shyam Bishen, Head, Centre for Health and Healthcare and Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum
Dr Karin Tegmark Wisell, Director General, Public Health Agency of Sweden
Defecation
Normal defecation begins with movement in the left colon, moving stool toward the anus. When stool reaches the rectum, the distention causes relaxation of the internal sphincter and an awareness of the need to defecate. At the time of defecation, the external sphincter relaxes, and abdominal muscles contract, increasing intrarectal pressure and forcing the stool out
The Valsalva maneuver exerts pressure to expel faeces through a voluntary contraction of the abdominal muscles while maintaining forced expiration against a closed airway. Patients with cardiovascular disease, glaucoma, increased intracranial pressure, or a new surgical wound are at greater risk for cardiac dysrhythmias and elevated blood pressure with the Valsalva maneuver and need to avoid straining to pass the stool.
Normal defecation is painless, resulting in passage of soft, formed stool
CONSTIPATION
Constipation is a symptom, not a disease. Improper diet, reduced fluid intake, lack of exercise, and certain medications can cause constipation. For example, patients receiving opiates for pain after surgery often require a stool softener or laxative to prevent constipation. The signs of constipation include infrequent bowel movements (less than every 3 days), difficulty passing stools, excessive straining, inability to defecate at will, and hard feaces
IMPACTION
Fecal impaction results from unrelieved constipation. It is a collection of hardened feces wedged in the rectum that a person cannot expel. In cases of severe impaction the mass extends up into the sigmoid colon.
DIARRHEA
Diarrhea is an increase in the number of stools and the passage of liquid, unformed feces. It is associated with disorders affecting digestion, absorption, and secretion in the GI tract. Intestinal contents pass through the small and large intestine too quickly to allow for the usual absorption of fluid and nutrients. Irritation within the colon results in increased mucus secretion. As a result, feces become watery, and the patient is unable to control the urge to defecate. Normally an anal bag is safe and effective in long-term treatment of patients with fecal incontinence at home, in hospice, or in the hospital. Fecal incontinence is expensive and a potentially dangerous condition in terms of contamination and risk of skin ulceration
HEMORRHOIDS
Hemorrhoids are dilated, engorged veins in the lining of the rectum. They are either external or internal.
FLATULENCE
As gas accumulates in the lumen of the intestines, the bowel wall stretches and distends (flatulence). It is a common cause of abdominal fullness, pain, and cramping. Normally intestinal gas escapes through the mouth (belching) or the anus (passing of flatus)
FECAL INCONTINENCE
Fecal incontinence is the inability to control passage of feces and gas from the anus. Incontinence harms a patient’s body image
PREPARATION AND GIVING OF LAXATIVESACCORDING TO POTTER AND PERRY,
An enema is the instillation of a solution into the rectum and sig
India Clinical Trials Market: Industry Size and Growth Trends [2030] Analyzed...Kumar Satyam
According to TechSci Research report, "India Clinical Trials Market- By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2030F," the India Clinical Trials Market was valued at USD 2.05 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.64% through 2030. The market is driven by a variety of factors, making India an attractive destination for pharmaceutical companies and researchers. India's vast and diverse patient population, cost-effective operational environment, and a large pool of skilled medical professionals contribute significantly to the market's growth. Additionally, increasing government support in streamlining regulations and the growing prevalence of lifestyle diseases further propel the clinical trials market.
Growing Prevalence of Lifestyle Diseases
The rising incidence of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer is a major trend driving the clinical trials market in India. These conditions necessitate the development and testing of new treatment methods, creating a robust demand for clinical trials. The increasing burden of these diseases highlights the need for innovative therapies and underscores the importance of India as a key player in global clinical research.
Navigating Challenges: Mental Health, Legislation, and the Prison System in B...Guillermo Rivera
This conference will delve into the intricate intersections between mental health, legal frameworks, and the prison system in Bolivia. It aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current challenges faced by mental health professionals working within the legislative and correctional landscapes. Topics of discussion will include the prevalence and impact of mental health issues among the incarcerated population, the effectiveness of existing mental health policies and legislation, and potential reforms to enhance the mental health support system within prisons.
Telehealth Psychology Building Trust with Clients.pptxThe Harvest Clinic
Telehealth psychology is a digital approach that offers psychological services and mental health care to clients remotely, using technologies like video conferencing, phone calls, text messaging, and mobile apps for communication.
How many patients does case series should have In comparison to case reports.pdfpubrica101
Pubrica’s team of researchers and writers create scientific and medical research articles, which may be important resources for authors and practitioners. Pubrica medical writers assist you in creating and revising the introduction by alerting the reader to gaps in the chosen study subject. Our professionals understand the order in which the hypothesis topic is followed by the broad subject, the issue, and the backdrop.
https://pubrica.com/academy/case-study-or-series/how-many-patients-does-case-series-should-have-in-comparison-to-case-reports/
We understand the unique challenges pickleball players face and are committed to helping you stay healthy and active. In this presentation, we’ll explore the three most common pickleball injuries and provide strategies for prevention and treatment.
CHAPTER 1 SEMESTER V - ROLE OF PEADIATRIC NURSE.pdfSachin Sharma
Pediatric nurses play a vital role in the health and well-being of children. Their responsibilities are wide-ranging, and their objectives can be categorized into several key areas:
1. Direct Patient Care:
Objective: Provide comprehensive and compassionate care to infants, children, and adolescents in various healthcare settings (hospitals, clinics, etc.).
This includes tasks like:
Monitoring vital signs and physical condition.
Administering medications and treatments.
Performing procedures as directed by doctors.
Assisting with daily living activities (bathing, feeding).
Providing emotional support and pain management.
2. Health Promotion and Education:
Objective: Promote healthy behaviors and educate children, families, and communities about preventive healthcare.
This includes tasks like:
Administering vaccinations.
Providing education on nutrition, hygiene, and development.
Offering breastfeeding and childbirth support.
Counseling families on safety and injury prevention.
3. Collaboration and Advocacy:
Objective: Collaborate effectively with doctors, social workers, therapists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure coordinated care for children.
Objective: Advocate for the rights and best interests of their patients, especially when children cannot speak for themselves.
This includes tasks like:
Communicating effectively with healthcare teams.
Identifying and addressing potential risks to child welfare.
Educating families about their child's condition and treatment options.
4. Professional Development and Research:
Objective: Stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in pediatric healthcare through continuing education and research.
Objective: Contribute to improving the quality of care for children by participating in research initiatives.
This includes tasks like:
Attending workshops and conferences on pediatric nursing.
Participating in clinical trials related to child health.
Implementing evidence-based practices into their daily routines.
By fulfilling these objectives, pediatric nurses play a crucial role in ensuring the optimal health and well-being of children throughout all stages of their development.
CHAPTER 1 SEMESTER V - ROLE OF PEADIATRIC NURSE.pdf
Lesson 5 mod 4 mind
1. Mindfulness and Pleasant situations
• Whenever we notice that our mind is trying to hold on to the moment, to prolong the happy
feeling, we can take notice of this and accept that this is the way our mind works and return to
the present moment.
• Mindfulness teaches one that nothing is permanent.
• We liberate our mind from the tendency to hold on to things.
• Mindfulness also teaches us to make fewer demands of this moment or a future moment.
• You approach a moment mindfully with openness, letting go of your own demands or
expectations.
2. Exercise: Acceptance
What was it like to
do this exercise?
Was this
experience
different from the
previous exercise?
If so, what was
different?
To what extent
were you able to
accept your
experiences?
How difficult was it
for you to allow
feelings to be
present?
4. Both positive and negative experiences are inevitable parts of life. In general, we have no problem dealing with positive experiences. Negative
experiences can be more challenging. Negative experiences are to a great extent experienced as challenging not because of our actual experience,
but because of our attitude and relationship with those feelings. Although pleasant and unpleasant situations are both parts of life, many of us have
developed a completely different relationship with them. We tend to accept and embrace pleasant experiences and fight against or resist negative
experiences. In the long term, this tendency to deal differently with both types of experiences help us a certain relationship with each of them.
The following metaphor aims to explain what is meant by this.
• Imagine the doorbell rings. As you open the door, there is a stranger standing in front of you. He is in a good mood, smiles, and has a positive
attitude. You have a nice chat and then he leaves. The next day, he shows up again. You invite him in for a cup of coffee. You spend the afternoon
together and have a lot of fun. Over time, a positive relationship is built. Every time he visits, you open the door and let him in. He is welcome.
On another day, the doorbell rings and as you open the door, you are confronted with a completely different person. This person is in a negative
mood, looks sad, and has a negative attitude. He is having a difficult time and asks if he may come in. You respond that he is not welcomed and
that he should leave. You immediately shut the door and try to forget that he was there.
• After a while, the doorbell rings again and as you are walking to the door, you are hoping to see the positive person. Unfortunately, it is the
negative person again. Slightly irritated, you tell him that he is not allowed to come in and is certainly not welcomed. It does not matter how much
you would like this person to stay away, he continues visiting you from time to time. Although you never gave the two of you a chance to get to
know each other, in your mind, he gets more hostile and dangerous. Sometimes, out of the blue, you fear that he might show up randomly. Maybe
you even decide to barricade your house or place cameras in front of your house. Over time, a negative relationship has been built.
Exercise: The Unwanted Guest
5. • This metaphor illustrates how we can develop a relationship with positive and negative experiences, even without meaning to do so. The
positive and negative people in this metaphor represent positive and negative experiences. Just as we do not allow the negative person
to come in, we are not willing to allow negative or difficult experiences to be present. We try to avoid them by suppressing or ignoring
them or wishing they would go away – we do not get to know them. Generally, we develop a relationship with negative emotions that is
characterized by non-acceptance and avoidance.
• Naturally, we want to keep the negative experiences out for many reasons. First, they are simply unpleasant, and by shutting the door,
we think we can prevent them from hurting us, at least temporarily. Second, our environment can implicitly or explicitly teach us to keep
negative experiences out. A father who tells his son that “big boys don’t cry” is effectively telling his son to block any emotion that can
cause tears or emotional pain.
• Several problems emerge as a result of keeping negative experiences out. First, we fail to extract valuable information from the emotion.
Emotions are data. They can tell us something valuable about ourselves. Anger, for instance, can tell us that someone crossed a line. We
should be aware and examine this emotion rather than keep it out. It could be a personal value, which should not be transgressed, or it
could be a submerged belief, which is actually erroneous and requires revision. Second, if we never let negative emotions in, we fail to
develop what can be referred to as emotional self-efficacy: the belief that we can handle difficult emotions. You are probably not letting
them in because you are afraid of what might happen. Third, trying to keep negative emotions out means fighting them. Consequently,
in addition to the negative experience itself, the fight and struggle can create additional suffering.
Exercise: The Unwanted Guest
6. REVIEWING THE EXERCISE
• Try to apply the principle of acceptance to this metaphor. Rather than keeping the door shut for the negative person, what would acceptance mean? (Acceptance of
emotions means that you open the door for both the positive and negative person. You allow both of them to have a seat at your kitchen table.)
• Imagine you decide to invite the negative person in. Do you think it will be a good thing? (Probably, the client will answer “no”. Note that the goal of acceptance-based
coping is not to create positive emotions or to make the negative emotions go away. The goal is to cultivate a different relationship with these emotions).
• How do you typically deal with unwanted guests?
• What could you do to deal more effectively with difficult emotions?
• What would it be like to open the door for every kind of guest?
• What would it be like to give an unwanted guest a hug?
THE GOAL OF THE EXERCISE
• To deal effectively with emotions, the metaphor above illustrates the importance of cultivating an acceptance-based relationship with emotions. Rather than keeping the
door shut, one should be willing to keep the door open and allow emotions, both positive and negative, to be present.
• The aim of acceptance-based coping is to cultivate a different relationship with emotions. For many participants, this sounds very abstract. What does it mean to have a
certain “relationship” with emotions? Rather than using difficult psychological jargon to explain what is meant, it is often more effective to use very concrete examples in
the form of a metaphor to illustrate the principle. This exercise is designed to increase understanding of acceptance-based coping.
Exercise: The Unwanted Guest
Editor's Notes
Whenever we notice that our mind is trying to hold on to the moment, to prolong the happy feeling, we can take notice of this and accept that this is the way our mind works and return to the present moment.
Mindfulness teaches one that nothing is permanent, not even the current moment. By experiencing the changeability instead of avoiding it, we liberate our mind from the tendency to hold on to things. Since everything fades, even this pleasant moment, it is important to experience it with undivided attention. Simply by accepting that nothing is permanent, it becomes easier to return to the (pleasant) here and now. We experience the here and now with more intensity and we are able to enjoy the moment once again.
Mindfulness also teaches us to make fewer demands of this moment or a future moment. You approach a moment mindfully with openness, letting go of your own demands or expectations. By having fewer demands of the current moment or the future, the chance for struggle and conflict diminishes.
This doesn’t mean that you cannot get excited about things or hope that an evening will turn out to be fun. Rather, it refers to letting go of the idea that the future at some point must be a certain way. There’s a fair chance that the future moment will eventually not meet your expectations. A conflict or struggle then is inevitable. By letting go of this “demand of the future”, a conflict is less likely to emerge.
Ask participants to do the following:
Close your eyes if that feels comfortable for you. If you choose to leave your eyes open, then focus your attention on a fixed point on the floor, let your gaze softly rest, and keep it there for the duration of the meditation.
Focus on your breath, notice each inhale and each exhale. After a few breaths, notice where your body is making contact, for example, feet touching the floor, back on the ground, sit bones on a chair, and the like.
Now, bring the challenging scenario you have chosen in the previous exercise to the forefront of your mind again. Really imagine yourself in the scenario. As vividly as possible, imagine the situation using all your senses.
As a result of bringing this scenario to the forefront of your mind, you may notice that certain emotions arise.
What emotions are you experiencing? What thoughts are going through your mind?
Now focus on your body. Often, are emotions represented in our body? What feelings arise in your body? Simply observe what you feel in your body. Maybe you feel tension or other sensations. Perhaps you experience a tightness in your stomach, around your heart or neck. Whatever you experience, try to stay with the sensations and be gentle on yourself.
Use your breath as a vehicle to stay with those sensations. Direct your awareness to the part of the body where those sensations are the strongest. ‘Breathe into’ that part of the body on the in-breath.
Rather than pushing this experience away, try to let it be. In silence, you can say to the feeling: “it is ok, you are allowed to be here”. “Whatever it is, it’s OK. Let me feel it”. See what happens if you allow yourself to experience whatever you experience in this moment. Just stay with the awareness of these bodily sensations and your relationship with them, breathing with them, accepting them, letting them be. You can repeat “It’s OK. Whatever it is, it’s OK”.
Perhaps you notice that the feeling gets more intense. Maybe the feeling remains the same or declines. It may also move in your body. Whatever happens, it is OK. Simply allow it to be. Observe what happens. Remember to stay with the experience with curiosity and kindness. You are experiencing sensations without reacting.
Now slowly let your chosen scenario leave the focus of your attention.
Wiggle your fingers and toes, slowly open your eyes, and bring your attention back to the present.
REVIEWING THE EXERCISE
Discuss the following questions with the participants:
What was it like to do this exercise?
Was this experience different from the previous exercise? If so, what was different?
To what extent were participants able to accept their experiences?
How difficult was it for participants to allow feelings to be present?
EXPLAINING THE GOAL OF THE EXERCISE
The goal of this exercise is to demonstrate what acceptance of emotions and feelings entails. Acceptance means that we allow emotions and feelings to be present as they are. Instead of trying to change or suppress them, acceptance involves willingness to allow emotions to take their natural course. Note that acceptance does not mean that one is constantly focused on emotional experiences. Acceptance comes in moments. When feelings and thoughts naturally arise, you allow for them to be present, but trying really hard to stay in contact with them all the time and telling yourself to accept them is not what acceptance means.
Important note: When participants start to accept emotions more often, they sometimes notice that acceptance causes their emotions to fade away more quickly. This observation can cause participants to “use” acceptance as a way to get rid of experiences. Because they believe that acceptance will help their negative experiences disappear, acceptance now becomes a strategy that is very close to suppression. Just like suppression, the goal is no longer to allow feelings to take their natural course, but to make them go away. It is important to discuss this potential pitfall of acceptance with participants.
Explain the following metaphor to participants:
Both positive and negative experiences are inevitable parts of life. In general, we have no problem dealing with positive experiences. Negative experiences can be more challenging. Negative experiences are to a great extent experienced as challenging not because of our actual experience, but because of our attitude and relationship with those feelings. Although pleasant and unpleasant situations are both parts of life, many of us have developed a completely different relationship with them. We tend to accept and embrace pleasant experiences and fight against or resist negative experiences. In the long term, this tendency to deal differently with both types of experiences help us a certain relationship with each of them. The following metaphor aims to explain what is meant by this.
Imagine the doorbell rings. As you open the door, there is a stranger standing in front of you. He is in a good mood, smiles, and has a positive attitude. You have a nice chat and then he leaves. The next day, he shows up again. You invite him in for a cup of coffee. You spend the afternoon together and have a lot of fun. Over time, a positive relationship is built. Every time he visits, you open the door and let him in. He is welcome.
On another day, the doorbell rings and as you open the door, you are confronted with a completely different person. This person is in a negative mood, looks sad, and has a negative attitude. He is having a difficult time and asks if he may come in. You respond that he is not welcomed and that he should leave. You immediately shut the door and try to forget that he was there.
After a while, the doorbell rings again and as you are walking to the door, you are hoping to see the positive person. Unfortunately, it is the negative person again. Slightly irritated, you tell him that he is not allowed to come in and is certainly not welcomed. It does not matter how much you would like this person to stay away, he continues visiting you from time to time. Although you never gave the two of you a chance to get to know each other, in your mind, he gets more hostile and dangerous. Sometimes, out of the blue, you fear that he might show up randomly. Maybe you even decide to barricade your house or place cameras in front of your house. Over time, a negative relationship has been built.
This metaphor illustrates how we can develop a relationship with positive and negative experiences, even without meaning to do so. The positive and negative people in this metaphor represent positive and negative experiences. Just as we do not allow the negative person to come in, we are not willing to allow negative or difficult experiences to be present. We try to avoid them by suppressing or ignoring them or wishing they would go away – we do not get to know them. Generally, we develop a relationship with negative emotions that is characterized by non-acceptance and avoidance.
Naturally, we want to keep the negative experiences out for many reasons. First, they are simply unpleasant, and by shutting the door, we think we can prevent them from hurting us, at least temporarily. Second, our environment can implicitly or explicitly teach us to keep negative experiences out. A father who tells his son that “big boys don’t cry” is effectively telling his son to block any emotion that can cause tears or emotional pain.
Several problems emerge as a result of keeping negative experiences out. First, we fail to extract valuable information from the emotion. Emotions are data. They can tell us something valuable about ourselves. Anger, for instance, can tell us that someone crossed a line. We should be aware and examine this emotion rather than keep it out. It could be a personal value, which should not be transgressed, or it could be a submerged belief, which is actually erroneous and requires revision. Second, if we never let negative emotions in, we fail to develop what can be referred to as emotional self-efficacy: the belief that we can handle difficult emotions. You are probably not letting them in because you are afraid of what might happen. Third, trying to keep negative emotions out means fighting them. Consequently, in addition to the negative experience itself, the fight and struggle can create additional suffering.
REVIEWING THE EXERCISE
Try to apply the principle of acceptance to this metaphor. Rather than keeping the door shut for the negative person, what would acceptance mean? (Acceptance of emotions means that you open the door for both the positive and negative person. You allow both of them to have a seat at your kitchen table.)
Imagine you decide to invite the negative person in. Do you think it will be a good thing? (Probably, the client will answer “no”. Note that the goal of acceptance-based coping is not to create positive emotions or to make the negative emotions go away. The goal is to cultivate a different relationship with these emotions).
How do you typically deal with unwanted guests?
What could you do to deal more effectively with difficult emotions?
What would it be like to open the door for every kind of guest?
What would it be like to give an unwanted guest a hug?
EXPLAINING THE GOAL OF THE EXERCISE
To deal effectively with emotions, the metaphor above illustrates the importance of cultivating an acceptance-based relationship with emotions. Rather than keeping the door shut, one should be willing to keep the door open and allow emotions, both positive and negative, to be present.
The aim of acceptance-based coping is to cultivate a different relationship with emotions. For many participants, this sounds very abstract. What does it mean to have a certain “relationship” with emotions? Rather than using difficult psychological jargon to explain what is meant, it is often more effective to use very concrete examples in the form of a metaphor to illustrate the principle. This exercise is designed to increase understanding of acceptance-based coping.