A Brief Introduction to
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
ACT helps us to accept struggles while living a meaningful life
Pain is Normal
ACT shows us how painful thoughts, feelings, and experiences are a normal part of life. It is normal to have thoughts you dislike, it is normal to feel incredibly sad at times, it is normal to be hurt by things that have happened in your life. It is also normal to do things to try to control and push away all of these painful things. However, when we spend lots of time and energy trying to do this, we can become stuck. ACT helps us to accept pain and then move forwards.
Meaning is Essential
We all need to feel as if we are doing something meaningful with our lives. Without this sense of purpose, we can get stuck in jobs and habits that feel rote, depressing and empty.
ACT will help you to identify what really matters to you. It will then help you to take steps each and every day to do what matters and build a sense of meaning and purpose.
A Loving Life
ACT dares us to find what we love and then pursue it, even when this is terrifying. It does this by giving us specific, powerful tools:
1. the strength to make space for painful experiences,
2. the ability to know but not be controlled by painful thoughts and feelings,
3. the clarity of knowing what you want to stand for in this life.
With these, you can live and love.