Examples of dysfunctional rules of life
Examples of dysfunctional rules of life introduced by Aaron Beck:
I should never feel hurt.
I should always be happy and serene.
To be happy I must be accepted, liked, admired by all people at all times.
My value as a person depends on what others think of me.
I should always be spontaneous.
I should always control my feelings.
I should never be tired or get sick.
I should never hurt anybody else.
I should always be at peak efficiency.
If I make a mistake, it means that I’m inept.
I should be a perfect lover, friend, parent, teacher, student, and spouse.
In the next few pages, examples of automatic thoughts and the corresponding rules of life they violate are given.