Being there for your kids - Living Life on the Edge

Episode Date: July 26, 2024

Living life on the edge can be both precarious and thrilling. Sometimes the balance is worth it. Other times, the toll can be debilitating anxiety. Take a moment to check out this podcast and learn just how you can talk yourself off the edge, overcoming adversity, improving stress management, and restoring resilience. Blessings, Dr. Jon

Hi, I'm Dr. John Robinson, and this is Teachable Moments. Let me ask you something. Do you live life on the edge? To those who do live life on the edge, your world can be exciting, adventurous, exhilarating, but also exhausting, addicting, and overwhelming. Always on the lookout for the next greatest thing. Be careful or you might miss it. Relaxing, enjoying the moment, chilling. These are not on your mind. On balance, do the positives outweigh the negatives?

I don't think so. Many years ago, my father imparted powerful wisdom to me, which he borrowed from the Greek philosophers. The golden rule of Greek philosophy is this, moderation in all things. In our newer world of counseling and psychotherapy, this golden rule has become the mantra of cognitive behavioral therapy, also known as CBT. In my new book, The Healing Journey, overcoming adversity on the path of the good life, I introduced mental intelligence psychotherapy. Most adversity that we encounter involves some version of living on the edge. With MPT, we challenge the extremes that are filtering into our client's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Albert Ellis, with his rational emotive therapy, first identified the importance of extreme words to our emotional health. Later, Donald Michenbaum expanded the lexicon with cognitive behavioral therapy.

So, what extreme words and beliefs put us living life on the edge? Such words include should, could, must, need, only, ever, never, and the like. You can see how these words limit the options to our responses. Doc, you just don't understand. I have to knock three times at every door I enter. If I don't, bad things will happen. My patient concluded after explaining an action situation to me. Well, Matt, I see how your conclusions put you in a mental box.

Matt wrinkled his brow, not really knowing what I meant. I continued. What would happen if you only knocked twice each time? What do you mean? Well, would your heart stop? No, that's silly. Not to you, Matt, I countered. That box is so tight around you that you might suffocate if you don't knock three times. I saw Matt begin to hyperventilate and began a calming sequence with him. As Matt regained his composure, I concluded, Now, Matt, I'm not suggesting that you give up your irrational ritual altogether.

Start slowly. Every once in a while, why don't you knock only two times and see what happens? Make it a personal experiment before you decide to moderate your behavior. Okay, I'll give it a try, Matt reluctantly conceded. The goal of CBT is moderation. With MPT, I use mindfulness and positive psychology along with cognitive behavioral strategies to reach that goal. When you step away from the edge and embrace moderation, you develop the possibility of changing your trajectory from downward spiraling to upward spiraling. You start your healing journey toward overcoming your adversities and finding better stress management and a stronger sense of personal

resilience. Blessings, Dr. John. If my comments stir questions of your own, contact me through my website at www.org, thereformykids.com, or email me at John Robinson, 0.0.BelSouth.net. I'm Dr. Jonathan C. Robinson, licensed clinical psychologist, and author of of Teachable Moments, Building Blocks of Christian Parenting, and my new book, The Healing, The Healing, Journey, Overcoming Adversity on the Path to the Good Life. And this has been Teachable Moments. Teachable Moments, Building Blocks of Christian Parenting, is available online at AmazonBooks.com and in local and national bookstores. More on Dr. Robinson at TMC-P-I-N-C.com.