Facilitator Training Information Notice: This information is confidential. BEFORE you proceed you agree to hold all contents confidential to any all persons save those duly authorized by Spirit Thinking USA. If you have received this information in error, please immediately destroy the document in its entirety. Included:
Welcome Letter Basics of Spirit Thinking Guide to Reading Spirit Thinking: Your 30 Day Guide to Enlightenment REBT Primer Schedule of Fees for Certification Sample Certificate
Welcome Prospective Facilitator:
Spirit Thinking is an exciting new approach to pastoral counseling and spiritual development coaching which combines cognitive principals with qualities of the Spirit to bring change to your clients’ thinking as you take them on the journey of knowing their Spirit-Self more effectively. Spirit Thinking is a very valuable supplemental tool to your training. However, it should not be relied upon alone to help every client in every situation. As you read the text, you will become familiar with the program and the aspects of Spirit Thinking. You will see where many of your clients can immediately benefit. If you feel a client we can provide you with the Spirit Thinking Guide for a low cost. Many CSTF’s charge between $135.00 - $395.00 for clients to complete the program and obtain their Mastery Certificate! Completion of the CSTF course requires you to successfully read and complete exercises in Spirit Thinking: Your 30 Day Guide to Enlightenment, a live practice session with a CSTF-M and the completion of the 30 Day Workbook. Both your copy of Spirit Thinking: Your 30 Day Guide to Enlightenment which you complete, your journal of exercises, and the completed workbook must be returned in order to obtain your certificate. Once they are received, you may immediately schedule your practice session to show your mastery of the materials. After all materials are reviewed and judged to be of good to excellent quality, you will be issued your CSTF Certificate! You are then legally licensed to use and advertise the professional initials CSTF after your other professional initials and use the Course in Spirit Thinking for your clients. Spirit Thinking is growing! More and more people are hearing about the program. If you decide to become a Certified Spirit Thinking Facilitator, you will be the only Facilitator in your zip code in order to provide referrals to you. Spirit Thinking uses 30 percent of your Facilitator fee for advertising to generate leads for your success. Spirit Thinking teachings are always evolving and continuing to add information and training. For that reason, your Certification will expire in 24 months. However, you may choose the Lifetime CSTF Certification program at a very low extra cost and your CSTF will not expire so long as you keep up with the at least 6 CEU’s every twelve months. It is a very exciting time to be joining our program and I hope to see your acceptance email soon!
Legal Disclosures and Notices Spirit Thinking® Spirit Thinking USA™ Certified Spirit Training Facilitator™ CSTF™ and the three stripe Spirit Thinking logo, are LEGALLY REGISTERED WITH THE United States Patent and Trademark Office as well as Copyright © 2009 Advocate USA, LLC. Other division of Advocate USA, LLC., include: Advocate USA Publishing, Christian Living Books Legal and Registered Address: Advocate USA, LLC. 848 N. Rainbow Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89107 800-936-0812 Fax 888-897-9407 Managing Member and President: Reece Wyman Manley info@advocateusa.net Residence of Managing Member: Reece Wyman Manley 15530 Lewis Place 4729 Addison, TX 75001 214-329-4145 Fax 888-897-9407 reece@manley.net
By proceeding you agree to the following: Not to disclose this information to any party. You have applied for and received permission from Spirit Thinking USA to take the Certified Spirit Thinking Facilitator Training. You have agreed to a disclosed Schedule of Fees. You understand the CSTF is a supplemental credential of great importance, however, it is not recognized by the States of Texas or Nevada for licensure for professional counseling. Hence, you must fulfill your state’s training. Note this does not apply to those who are ordained ministers and practice as professional pastoral counselors or life coaching, except where such practice is regulated. Spirit Thinking is a spiritual program and is exempt from interference by and governmental body because of its positive, supportive religious nature.
Introduction to Spirit Thinking Certification Why Spirit Thinking? America is hungry for spirituality. Spirituality is the buzzword from Oprah to Dr. Phil to Donald Trump. But what is anyone doing about it? Most people think spirituality is the same thing as religion. We know, however, that is a very bad equation to make. Spirituality is about our personal relationship with our Creator. Although we may use religion to supplement our spirituality, it can also be supplemented by reading, meditating, visualization and exercising our Spirit-Self just as we do our Body-Self and Mind-Self. Spirit Thinking is an answer to the need for more spirituality. It may not be the answer for all. Nevertheless, EVERY person can benefit from some part of Spirit Thinking. Spirit Thinking: Your 30 Day Guide to Enlightenment is the text for the Spirit Thinking approach. Spirit Thinking was developed by Dr. Reece W. Manley, DD, M.Ed., MPM, Rev., who wrote the text after he survived a near death experience during a five month battle with MRSA. He is the only known person to have survived the specific strain of MRSA he faced. During his Crossing, Dr. Manley spent hours inside the Creator’s Light and the billions of souls inhabiting the heavens. Although he lost most knowledge when he was returned to this life, he still retained the inspiration for Spirit Thinking.
The Mission of Spirit Thinking The Mission of Spirit Thinking is the spreading of the truth of God’s love of all of His children, universally and unequivocally. The first rule of Spirit Thinking is to do no harm. The second rule of Spirit Thinking is compassion in all things. The third rule of Spirit Thinking is integrity. By beginning this training you have indicated your interest in sharing the good news of God’s love and His Spirit’s ability to intervene in our lives. The power of Spirit Thinking lays 100% in the ability of the client to believe in God’s accepting, unconditional love. No one can adequately train anyone except in the route of compassionate commitment to the teachings of God’s love. Teachings of God’s love are evident in every culture, faith and denomination. Sadly, the teachings are often marred by man’s will, or lack of will. It is our job as facilitator’s to find the evidence of God’s love and to bring that to the attention of our clients. We cannot think or act for our clients. We must bring them to the point of making better choices and let them fly. Spirit Thinking is a unique combination of cognitive and REBT approaches with specific spiritual principles. Like cognitive approaches, Spirit Thinking seeks to help by intervening in clients’ thinking processes with positive self-statements and placing situations in context. Unlike cognitive theories, Spirit Thinking uses ten specific spiritual qualities to provide depth of the Spirit in challenging thinking.
Essential Concepts of Spirit Thinking: Our Creator is the source of all things in the Universe. The Creator loves each of His children completely, wholly and without reserve. The Creator is deeply passionate about His children. The Creator, in His wisdom and beyond our understanding, gave the gift of Free Will to mankind. We are empowered by Free Will to make choices which go against the qualities of our Creator. We are empowered and supported by the Spirit to exercise our Free Will to connect with our Creator. The Creator is limited by His divine gift over dominion of man in the fact that mankind has Free Will. It is our greatest gift. It is our strongest curse. It is the most powerful concept for mankind to master. Becoming aware of Free Will is essential for the success of Spirit Thinking. The concept of choosing the Creator’s path is our ultimate use of Free Will.
People are made of three selves. There is the body-self, the mind-self and the spirit-self. The spirit-self is the eternal part of ourselves which has all of the power because of the spirit-self’s connection to the Creator. The Creator has certain qualities which can be thought of as the fabric of the Spirit, the “DNA” of the spiritual-self. The Creator is the perfection of these qualities while we are on a journey to manifest these qualities as children of the Creator. Some of the Qualities of the Creator include:
The Spirit of the Creator and the spirit-self of mankind is: Eternal. The I Am has been, is, and will be forever. Our spirit-self lives forever, and is forever strong. Loving. The Creator is love perfected and perfectly expressed to His children. In our spirit-selves we are deeply cared for, and we deeply care for others. Intelligent. God knows all that is to be known or will be known. Our spirit-self is open to Spirit knowledge. Powerful. The I Am is powerful in all His ways. While our spirit-selves draw our strength from the One who has no limits. Insightful. No mystery is unknown to God. For our spirit-selves, we know wrong from right, and how to apply it. Supportive. The Creator is supportive of his children. He lifts us up when we are tired, alone, or ill. Our spirit-selves enable us to reach out to others in this way. Empowering. God seeks to give his children the power to live incredible lives. He gives us the ability to act in ways that are powerful. Challenging. God challenges us to grow along our paths. Growth never rests and opportunities come daily. Our spirit-selves help others along their paths in earthly ways. Patient. God waits on, and awaits His children’s company. We never disappoint God, but he does celebrate our walking in tune with His love. We must try, try again. There is no getting it wrong, only closer to right. Joyful. God is joyful. God offers us something deeper than happiness; joy is the simple pleasure of being.
In understanding these qualities, we can bring about great change. Types of thinking: Natural. Natural thinking is the interaction between the body-self and mind-self. Our body-self and our mind-selves are wonderfully efficient. The body-self senses and reports all of the information from feather tickles to neurotransmitters appropriately to the mind-self. The
mind-self takes all of the information and matches it as closely as possible with a previously experienced event. This can be very beneficial for the automatic things that must take place. It can be a very harmful thing for making associations with old experiences we have had. For example, if we are afraid to leave our house in December because in our childhood we were told we would die of cold and we still believe that, we are acting on Natural thinking. Spirit Thinking. Spirit Thinking is the introduction of a challenge to Natural thinking using one of the qualities of the Spirit. Numerous examples are given in Spirit Thinking: Your 30 Day Guide to Enlightenment. One quick example would be the case of Nancy: Nancy is a single mother who has been out of work for a year and now has an interview approaching. She has learned the interview will be with Mr. Johnson. In her life, she has had a very bad experience with a different Mr. Johnson, but she still feels dread and great fear about completing the interview even though she needs the job. Fortunately, Nancy has a Spirit Thinking Facilitator who helps her do the following: Identify the trigger of the fear: Mr. Johnson from ten years ago who embarrassed her badly in a college English class. This memory causes great anxiety. Write down a statement of the trigger: I am afraid I will be humiliated by Mr. Johnson. Choose a quality of the Spirit for challenge: The spirit is supporting and empowering. Create new Spirit Thinking statements: I do not have to relive the experience with Mr. Johnson. I am supported by God and empowered to have new experiences. God supports me in all things. Continue with Spirit Thinking Statements until a new belief is formed.
Reading Tips for Spirit Thinking: Your 30 Day Guide to Enlightenment
Here are just a few things to focus on in the first chapters of Spirit Thinking: Your 30 Day Guide to Enlightenment. The complete Guide to Certified Spirit Thinking Facilitators contains more information. Chapter One:
The diagram is important and you should understand the significance of it. Be sure to review the REBT primer included. Chapter 1: It is important to perform quite a bit of self-disclosure in establishing the necessary trust to work Spirit Thinking Facilitator to client.
Chapter 2:
The near death experience is the reason for my passion for Spirit Thinking. You may or may not want to spend a great deal of time with the material. Some other good resources can be found at www.iands.org. These are important in that they prove the qualities of the Spirit from those who have been there.
Chapter 3: Spiritual Recovery is a very important topic. Be sure you can honestly answer the questions contained in the chapter for yourself and your client. Spiritual Recovery. Recommended reading is Spiritual Recovery: Seven Steps to Freedom by Dr. Reece Manley, DD, M.Ed., MPM (2010) and Schnarr’s Twelve Steps to Spiritual Recovery. Spiritual Abuse is rampant in America. It is one of the most devastating forms of abuse because it is the abuse of a part of our original self. Just like physical or emotional abuse, spiritual abuse can result in depression, anxiety, addiction disorders and a host of other problems. Proceed carefully but fully explore your clients spiritual state. If they are deeply wounded, you may need assistance of a licensed mental health counselor prepared to supervise your or assume the client. It is important to have a referral source for these instances BEFORE the demand.
Chapter 4: As a professional, it will be easier for you to answer these questions than it will be for your clients. You need to make certain you are comfortable with the material before taking it to the clients. The assumptions are the cornerstone of the work. The qualities of the Spirit are like threads in a fabric, they sometimes overlap, but each as its own color and blends to make beautiful patterns. Because we will be making specific challenges to thinking, we need the power of specific qualities to back up those challenges. That is why it is essential to understand the qualities of the Spirit to react to the specific stated problem.
Chapter 5: REBT and congnitive therapy. Please review the REBT primer and remember to train yourself to meet the needs of your clients. Again, seek supervision in REBT if you are unfamiliar with the concept. The included primer is not a full resource.
Chapter 6: Here we break down the power house of our life as being the spirit-self. While humans are a trinity (body, mind, spirit) only the spirit is eternal and is connected to the Creator throughout the span of eternity. The power of the Spirit-Self is unlimited just as the Creator’s reach is unlimited. The development of the Spirit-Self must be the focus of successful Spirit Thinking training and successful use of Spirit Thinking by clients.
Chapter 7: This is a wonderful way to begin to make close contact with your client. Taking them through the meditation several times is recommended. It can be very important to check in with your clients during the visualization/meditation to make certain they are experiencing the correct images, emotions, connections and feelings. Do not move on until you feel satisfied your client feels a connection or the beginning of the connection to the Spirit Self.
Chapter 8: In this chapter, we focus on helping the client focus on their connection between the client and the Creator. Imagine an invisible string going from ourselves to the Creator. Over time, this string becomes a cord. Then a cable. Soon it is a conduit of energy and light through which the power of the Creator flows directly to our Spirit self.
Chapter 9:
In this chapter, Spirit Thinking begins its unique connection between our old thinking with new inspired Spirit Thiking.
Chapter 10:
Problems in natural thinking come in the form of their limiting nature. Because natural thinking leaves out the Spirit Self, it is destined to failure.
Chapter 11: The Qualities of the Source are our basic building blocks for effective Spirit Thinking. Since each qualities, matches some external challenge it is essential to have these will memorized.
Chapter 12: The beliefs we have about things can be very, very limiting. It is the CSTF who opens up the doors on unhealthy beliefs using specific challenges.
The Second Half of Spirit Thinking: Your 30 Day Guide to Enlightenment focuses on changing the client’s life thinking. It is important for you to journal your response and thoughts in this section. It was originally written for professionals, so you should be able to understand the parts most important to your understanding.
Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy Review A Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy Primer Prepared by Reece W. Manley, DD, M.Ed., MPM (This is public domain information. There are no known copyrights to this material. This format of the information is Š 2009)
by Albert Ellis, Ph.D.
Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) is a comprehensive approach to psychological treatment that deals not only with the emotional and behavioral aspects of human disturbance, but places a great deal of stress on its thinking component. Human beings are exceptionally complex, and there neither seems to be any simple way in which they become "emotionally disturbed," nor is there a single way in which they can be helped to be less-defeating. Their psychological problems arise from their misperceptions and mistaken cognitions about what they perceive; from their emotional under reactions or overreactions to normal and unusual stimuli; and from their habitually dysfunctional behavior patterns, which enable them to keep repeating non-adjustive responses even when they "know" that they are behaving poorly.
Philosophical Conditioning REBT is based on the assumption that what we label our "emotional" reactions are largely caused by our conscious and unconscious evaluations, interpretations, and philosophies. Thus, we feel anxious or depressed because we strongly convince ourselves that it is terrible when we fail at something or that we can't stand the pain of being rejected. We feel hostile because we vigorously believe that people who behave unfairly to us absolutely should not act the way they indubitably do, and that it is utterly insufferable when they frustrate us.
Like stoicism, a school of philosophy which existed some two thousand years ago. Rational emotive behavior therapy holds that there are virtually no good reasons why human beings have to make themselves very neurotic, no matter what kind of negative stimuli impinge on them. It gives them full leeway to feel strong negative emotions, such as sorrow, regret, displeasure, annoyance, rebellion, and determination to change social conditions. It believes, however, that when they experience certain self-
defeating and unhealthy emotions (such as panic, depression, worthlessness, or rage), they are usually adding an unrealistic and illogical hypothesis to their empirically-based view that their own acts or those of others are reprehensible or inefficient and that something would better be done about changing them.
Rational emotive behavior therapists -- often within the first session or two of seeing a client -- can almost always put their finger on a few central irrational philosophies of life which this client vehemently believes. They can show clients how these ideas inevitably lead to emotional problems and hence to presenting clinical symptoms, can demonstrate exactly how they forthrightly question and challenge these ideas, and can often induce them to work to uproot them and to replace them with scientifically testable hypotheses about themselves and the world which are not likely to get them into future neurotic difficulties.
12 Irrational Ideas That Cause and Sustain Neurosis
Rational therapy holds that certain core irrational ideas, which have been clinically observed, are at the root of most neurotic disturbance. They are:
1. The idea that it is a dire necessity for adults to be loved by significant others for almost everything they do -- instead of their concentrating on their own self-respect, on winning approval for practical purposes, and on loving rather than on being loved.
2. The idea that certain acts are awful or wicked, and that people who perform such acts should be severely damned -- instead of the idea that certain acts are self-defeating or antisocial, and that people who perform such acts are behaving stupidly, ignorantly, or neurotically, and would be better helped to change. People's poor behaviors do not make them rotten individuals.
3. The idea that it is horrible when things are not the way we like them to be -- instead of the idea that it is too bad, that we would better try to change or control bad conditions so that they become more satisfactory, and, if that is not possible, we had better temporarily accept and gracefully lump their existence.
4. The idea that human misery is invariably externally caused and is forced on us by outside people and events -- instead of the idea that neurosis is largely caused by the view that we take of unfortunate conditions.
5.
The idea that if something is or may be dangerous or fearsome we should be terribly upset and endlessly obsess about it -- instead of the idea that one would better frankly face it and render it non-dangerous and, when that is not possible, accept the inevitable.
6. The idea that it is easier to avoid than to face life difficulties and self-responsibilities -- instead of the idea that the so-called easy way is usually much harder in the long run.
7. The idea that we absolutely need something other or stronger or greater than ourself on which to rely -- instead of the idea that it is better to take the risks of thinking and acting less dependently. 8. The idea that we should be thoroughly competent, intelligent, and achieving in all possible respects -- instead of the idea that we would better do rather than always need to do well and accept ourself as a quite imperfect creature, who has general human limitations and specific fallibilities.
9. The idea that because something once strongly affected our life, it should indefinitely affect it -instead of the idea that we can learn from our past experiences but not be overly-attached to or prejudiced by them. 10. The idea that we must have certain and perfect control over things -- instead of the idea that the world is full of probability and chance and that we can still enjoy life despite this.
11. The idea that human happiness can be achieved by inertia and inaction -- instead of the ideal that we tend to be happiest when we are vitally absorbed in creative pursuits, or when we are devoting ourselves to people or projects outside ourselves. 12. The idea that we have virtually no control over our emotions and that we cannot help feeling disturbed about things -- instead of the idea that we have real control over our destructive emotions if we choose to work at changing the Must Must Must hypotheses which we often employ to create them.
Main Differences from Other Schools
1. De-emphasis of early childhood. While REBT accepts the fact that neurotic states are sometimes originally learned or aggravated by early teaching or irrational beliefs by one's family and by society, it holds that these early-acquired irrationalities are not automatically sustained over the years by themselves.
Instead, they are very actively and creatively re-instilled by the individuals themselves. In many cases the therapist spends very little time on the clients' parents or family upbringing; and yet helps them to bring about significant changes in their disturbed patterns of living. The therapist demonstrates that no matter what the clients' basic irrational philosophy of life, nor when and how they acquired it, they are presently disturbed because they still believe this self-defeating world- and self-view. If they will observe exactly what they are irrationally thinking in the present, and will challenge and question these selfstatements they will usually improve significantly.
2. Emphasis on deep philosophical change and scientific thinking. Because of its belief that human neurotic disturbance is largely ideologically or philosophically based, REBT strives for a thorough-going philosophic reorientation of a people's outlook on life, rather than for a mere removal of any of their mental or psychosomatic symptoms. It teaches the clients, for example, that human adults do not need to be accepted or loved, even though it is highly desirable that they be.
REBT encourages individuals to be healthily sad or regretful when they are rejected, frustrated, or deprived. But it tries to teach them how to overcome feelings of intense hurt, self-deprecation, and depression. As in science, clients are shown how to question the dubious hypotheses that they construct about themselves and others. If they believe (as alas, millions of us do), that they are worthless because they perform certain acts badly, they are not merely taught to ask, "What is really bad about my acts?" and "Where is the evidence that they are wrong or unethical?" More importantly, they are shown how to ask themselves, "Granted that my acts may be mistaken, why am I a totally bad person for performing them? Where is the evidence that I must always be right in order to consider myself worthy? Assuming that it is preferable for me to act well rather than badly, why do I have to do what is preferable?"
Similarly, when people perceive (let us suppose, correctly) the erroneous and unjust acts of others, and become enraged at these others, they are shown how to stop and ask themselves, "Why is my hypothesis that the people who committed these errors and injustices are no damned good a true hypothesis? Granted that it would be better if they acted more competently or fairly, why should they have to do what would be better?" REBT teaches that to be human is to be fallible, and that if we are to get on in life with minimal upset and discomfort, we would better accept this reality and then unanxiously work hard to become a little less fallible.
3. Use of psychological homework. REBT agrees with most Freudian, neo-Freudian, Adlerian, and Jungian schools that acquiring insight, especially so-called emotional insight, into the source of their neurosis is a most important part of people's corrective teaching. It distinguishes sharply, however, between so-called intellectual and emotional insight, and operationally defines emotional insight as individuals' knowing or seeing the cause of their problems and working, in a determined and energetic manner, to apply this knowledge to the solution of these problems. The rational emotive behavior therapist helps clients to acknowledge that there is usually no other way for him to get better but by their continually observing, questioning, and challenging their own belief-systems, and by their working and practicing to change their own irrational beliefs by verbal and behavioral counter-propagandizing activity. In REBT, actual homework assignments are frequently agreed upon in individual and group therapy. Assignments may include dating a person whom the client is afraid to ask for a date; looking for a new job; experimentally returning to live with a husband with whom one has previously continually quarreled; etc. The therapist quite actively tries to encourage clients to undertake such assignments as an integral part of the therapeutic process.
The REBT practitioner is able to give clients unconditional rather than conditional positive regard because the REBT philosophy holds that no humans are to be damned for anything, no matter how execrable their pacts may be. Because of the therapist's unconditional acceptance of them as a human, and actively teaching clients how to fully accept themselves, clients are able to express their feelings more openly and to stop rating themselves even when they acknowledge the inefficiency or immorality of some of their acts.
In many highly important ways, then, rational emotive behavior therapy utilizes expressive-experimental methods and behavioral techniques. It is not, however, primarily interested in helping people ventilate emotion and feel better, but in showing them how they can truly get better, and lead to happier, nonself-defeating, self-actualized lives.
The ABC’s of Feelings and Behaviors
American psychologist Albert Ellis, the originator of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), was one of the first to systematically show how beliefs determine the way human beings feel and behave. Dr. Ellis developed the 'ABC’ model to demonstrate this. 'A’ refers to whatever started things off: a circumstance, event or experience - or just thinking about something which has happened. This triggers off thoughts ('B’), which in turn create a reaction - feelings and behaviors - ('C’).
To see this in operation, let’s meet Alan. A young man who had always tended to doubt himself, Alan imagined that other people did not like him, and that they were only friendly because they pitied him. One day, a friend passed him in the street without returning his greeting - to which Alan reacted negatively. Here is the event, Alan’s beliefs, and his reaction, put into the ABC format:
What started things off: A. Friend passed me in the street without speaking to me. B. Beliefs about A.: 1. He’s ignoring me. He doesn’t like me. 2. I could end up without friends for ever. 3. That would be terrible. 4. For me to be happy and feel worthwhile, people must like me. 5. I’m unacceptable as a friend - so I must be worthless as a person.
C. Reaction: Feelings: worthless, depressed. Behaviors: avoiding people generally.
Now, someone who thought differently about the same event would react in another way:
A. What started things off: Friend passed me in the street without speaking to me.
B. Beliefs about A.: 1.He didn’t ignore me deliberately. He may not have seen me. 2.He might have something on his mind. 3.I’d like to help if I can.
C. Reaction: Feelings: Concerned. Behaviours: Went to visit friend, to see how he is.
These examples show how different ways of viewing the same event can lead to different reactions. The same principle operates in reverse: when people react alike, it is because they are thinking in similar ways.
The rules we live by
What we tell ourselves in specific situations depends on the rules we hold. Everyone has a set of general 'rules’. Some will be rational, others will be self-defeating or irrational. Each person’s set is different.
Mostly subconscious, these rules determine how we react to life. When an event triggers off a train of thought, what we consciously think depends on the general rules we subconsciously apply to the event.
Let us say that you hold the general rule: 'To be worthwhile, I must succeed at everything I do.’ You happen to fail an examination; an event which, coupled with the underlying rule, leads you to the conclusion: 'I’m not worthwhile.’
Underlying rules are generalizations: one rule can apply to many situations. If you believe, for example: 'I can’t stand discomfort and pain and must avoid them at all costs,’ you might apply this to the dentist, to work, to relationships, and to life in general.
Why be concerned about your rules? While most will be valid and helpful, some will be self-defeating. Faulty rules will lead to faulty conclusions. Take the rule: 'If I am to feel OK about myself, others must like and approve of me.’ Let us say that your boss tells you off. You may (rightly) think: 'He is angry with me’ - but you may wrongly conclude: 'This proves I’m a failure.’ And changing the situation (for instance, getting your boss to like you) would still leave the underlying rule untouched. It would then be there to bother you whenever some future event triggered it off.
Most self-defeating rules are a variation of one or other of the '12 Self-defeating Beliefs’ listed at the end of this article. Take a look at this list now. Which ones do you identify with? Which are the ones that guide your reactions?
What are self-defeating beliefs?
To describe a belief as self-defeating, or irrational, is to say that:
It distorts reality (it’s a misinterpretation of what’s happening); or it involves some illogical ways of evaluating yourself, others, and the world around you: awfulizing, can’t stand it, demanding and people-rating; It blocks you from achieving your goals and purposes; It creates extreme emotions which persist, and which distress and immobilize; and It leads to behaviors that harm yourself, others, and your life in general.
Four ways to screw yourself up !
There are four typical ways of thinking that will make you feel bad or behave in dysfunctional ways:
1.
Awfulizing: using words like 'awful’, 'terrible’, 'horrible’, 'catastrophic’ to describe something - e.g. 'It would be terrible if …’, 'It’s the worst thing that could happen’, 'That would be the end of the world’. 2. Cant-stand-it-itis: viewing an event or experience as unbearable - e.g. 'I can’t stand it’, 'It’s absolutely unbearable’, I’ll die if I get rejected’. 3. Demanding: using 'shoulds’ (moralizing) or 'musts’ (musturbating) - e.g. 'I should not have done that, 'I must not fail’, 'I need to be loved’, 'I have to have a drink’. 4. People-rating: labeling or rating your total self (or someone else’s) - e.g. 'I’m stupid /hopeless /useless /worthless.’
Rational thinking
Rational thinking presents a vivid contrast to its illogical opposite:
It is based on reality - it emphasizes seeing things as they really are, keeping their badness in perspective, tolerating frustration and discomfort, preferring rather than demanding, and self-acceptance; It helps you achieve your goals and purposes; It creates emotions you can handle; and It helps you behave in ways which promote your aims and survival.
We are not talking about so-called 'positive thinking’. Rational thinking is realistic thinking. It is concerned with facts - the real world - rather than subjective opinion or wishful thinking.
Realistic thinking leads to realistic emotions. Negative feelings aren’t always bad for you. Neither are all positive feelings beneficial. Feeling happy when someone you love has died, for example,
may hinder you from grieving properly. Or to be unconcerned in the face of real danger could put your survival at risk. Realistic thinking avoids exaggeration of both kinds - negative and positive.
From Self-defeat to Rational Living
12 Self-defeating Beliefs and 12 Rational Beliefs
1. I need love and approval from those significant to me - and I must avoid disapproval from any source.
1. Love and approval are good things to have, and I'll seek them when I can. But they are not necessities - I can survive (even though uncomfortably) without them.
2. To be worthwhile as a person I must achieve, succeed at what ever I do, and make no mistakes.
2. I'll always seek to achieve as much as I can - but unfailing success and ompetence is unrealistic. Better I just accept myself as a person, separate to my performance.
3. People should always do the right thing. When they behave obnoxiously, unfairly or selfishly, they be blamed and punished.
3. It's unfortunate that people sometimes do bad things. But humans are not yet perfect - and upsetting myself won't change that reality.
4. Things must be the way I want them to be - otherwise life will be intolerable.
4. There is no law which says that things have to be the way I want. It's disappointing, but I can stand it - especially if I avoid catastrophizing.
5. My unhappiness is caused by things outside my control - so there is little I can do to feel any better.
5. Many external factors are outside my control. But it is my thoughts (not the externals) which cause my feelings. And I can learn to control my thoughts.
6.
I must worry about things that could be dangerous, unpleasant or frightening - otherwise they might happen.
6. Worrying about things that might go wrong won't stop them happening. It will, though, ensure I get upset and disturbed right now!
7. I can be happier by avoiding life's difficulties, unpleasantness, and responsibilities.
7. Avoiding problems is only easier in the short term - putting things off can make them worse later on. It also gives me more time to worry about them!
8. Everyone needs to depend on someone stronger than themselves.
8. Relying on someone else can lead to dependent behavior. It is OK to seek help - as long as I learn to trust myself and my own judgment.
9. Events in my past are the cause of my problems - and they continue to influence my feelings and behaviors now.
9. The past can't influence me now. My current beliefs cause my reactions. I may have learned these beliefs in the past, but can choose to analyze and change them in the present.
10. I should become upset when other people have problems and feel unhappy when they’re sad.
10. I can't change other people's problems and bad feelings by getting myself upset.
11. I should not have to feel discomfort and pain - I can't stand them and must avoid them at all costs.
11. Why should I in particular not feel discomfort and pain? I don't like them, but I can stand it. Also, my life would be very restricted if I always avoided discomfort.
12. Every problem should have an ideal solution, and it is intolerable when one can't be found. 12. Problems usually have many possible solutions. It is better to stop waiting for the perfect one and get on with the best available. I can live with less than the ideal.
Applying for CSTF requires completion of an application, including permission to perform a criminal background check. Felonies disqualify you from seeking CSTF status unless extreme circumstances can be shown. The submission of the $295.00 Certification fee for 48 month certification and participation or $350.00 for a permanent certification so long as you keep up with the educational requirements.
Certified Spirit Thinking Facilitator Requirements 1. Read Spirit Thinking: Your 30 Day Guide to Enlightenment a. While reading, keep a journal and make notes where you have questions. b. Keep a journal and write down insights your gain from the text. Normally this will be one or two paragraphs per chapter. c. Complete the exercises in the second half of the book. d. Complete the 30 Day Guide. 2. Read two new books from any of the following topics and provide a minimum 1000 word summary of each book. a. Spirituality b. Spiritual Development c. Near Death Experience d. Spiritual Recovery e. NOTE: If you select Crossing Twice: Answers from the Source (2009, Dr. Reece W. Manley, Advocate USA Publishing) for your supplemental texts you will only have to read it. It covers enough material to count for two books because of its concentration area. 3. Prepare a sample of Spirit Thinking Interventions for any two specific client problems. Do not use the same examples of the ones used in the Spirit Thinking journal. 4. Participate by phone or video chat in a practice Spirit Thinking session with a CSTF-M. When you are ready for this, please write cstf@spiritthinking.net and we will arrange for the session within one week of the request. 5. Submit all materials to: Dr. Reece W. Manley, DD, M.Ed., CSTF-M, 15530 Lewis Place Ste. 4729, Addison, TX 75001. 6. Receive your Certificate or a notice of Incomplete Credential Materials. Don’t worry, you’ll be given three opportunities to submit acceptable material. 7. Be current on any monies due for the Certification.
$100 Savings Certificate Dear Friend: Because of your many accomplishments, we are offering your unique opportunity to save on what will become one of the most sought after certification in the helping professional industry. The usual fee for the Certified Spirit Thinking Facilitator Certification is $295.00. However, this certificate can be used to save $100.00 off the normal course fee. The fee includes: 1. 2. 3. 4.
One copy of Spirit Thinking: Your 30 Day Guide to Enlightenment. Certification Training Guide One Hour Session for Practice of Spirit Thinking with a CSTF-M. The License to Use Spirit Thinking Series with your clients, including the following: a. 50 Brochures b. 50 Business Card Promotions c. 50 Personalized Mastery of Spirit Thinking Certificates for your clients. 5. Access to the Spirit Thinking Professional Network. 6. The license to use the Spirit Thinking name, Spirit Thinking Certified Provider Center and the professional initials CSTF after your name so long as it appears CSTF®
There is no other program that carries the “meat” Spirit Thinking will provide for those seeking spiritual development. You will have exclusive use to all of the above in your ZIP Code and you will receive any and all referrals generated by SpiritThinking.net for your immediate area. Please decide to move forward immediately by writing CSTF@SPIRITTHINKING.NET and request your application BEFORE January 14, 2010. Immediately submit the application by email, fax or email. Fax is 888-897-9407. Address: Spirit Thinking USA, 15530 Lewis Place 4729, This savings certificate expires midnight, January 14, 2010. Spirit Thinking USA
APPLICANT INFORMATION Last Name
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CERTIFIED SPIRIT THINKING FACILITATOR
Are you a citizen of the United States?
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NO
If no, are you authorized to work in the U.S.?
Have you ever worked for Advocate USA?
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If so, when?
Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
YES
NO
If yes, explain
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YES
REFERENCES Please list three professional references. Full Name
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Your hereby Authorize Advocate USA, LLC, to pull a Criminal Background Check as well as authorizing all of the above information is true, complete and without omission. This information is to be treated as CONFIDENTIAL. No information on this form will be released under ANY circumstances. This application is for a certification in a supplemental training program and carries no legal authorization or obligation save as described in the form. Your Signature Here: ______________________________________________________
SPIRIT THINKING速 USA THIS CERTIFIES THAT
Reece W. Manley has successfully completed the required course of study approved by the Board of Advocate USA Spirit Training Developer Council and is therefore awarded this
CERTIFIED SPIRIT THINKING FACILITATOR Given this 8th day of November 2009 to expire this day in 2011.
Reece W. Manley, DD, M.Ed,, MPM
SEAL
Dr. R. W. Winns, PhD, CSTF-M
Certified Spirit Thinking Facilitator Certification Now Available (Las Vegas, NV) 12-01-09 Spirit Thinking® Professional Certification is now available to mental health professionals interested in offering the registered process to their clients in their practice. “We have been fully reviewed by licensing agencies, endorsed by appropriate credentialed individuals and are now ready to begin training in the Spirit Thinking methodology of counseling clients,” says Craig Williams, PhD, Psychologist and Developer Advising Psychologist for Advocate USA Publishing. Imagine an approach to healing the emotional wounds of clients so fresh, so different that it was granted a patent consideration by the United States Trademark and Patent Office,” begins Dr. Williams, “The Spirit Thinking® process is the first of its kind to offer cognitive psychology combined with specific spiritual principles to bring about fast and lasting change in the thinking patterns of clients suffering with depression, anxiety, addiction and a host of other disorders. In short, this will change how you approach counseling. The need for training others in Spirit Thinking® was almost obvious from the beginning. “Client participation exit polls were showing an 86 percent of clients rating the Spirit Thinking® process. No other spirituality based helping process has ever ranked this high in client rated effectiveness,” says Craig. “And, this was after just four sessions, including the introductory orientation.” The Spirit Thinking® Process™ works for clients by allow them to read Spirit Thinking: Your 30 Day Guide to Enlightenment®, work with the included exercises, perform journaling and keep a 30 day record of their growth. The Certified Spirit Thinking Facilitator® (CSTF™) then takes the client through the steps of the exercises and then applies working the Spirit Thinking process over the next three sessions. At the end of the fourth session, clients are eligible for a certificate. However, the true gain is the ability to think positively and independently through their understanding of a loving, accepting and empowering Creator. Professionals interested in obtaining CSTF™ certification are invited to respond quickly. “We have hundreds of lives experiencing Spirit Thinking and we expect the grassroots to fuel a fire of demand for the training. We will be limiting our CSTF™ designations to one per ZIP code to ensure availability of clients and trained CSTF ™. Professionals will wish to note the CSTF is not a license to practice any type of counseling and carries no legal recognition at this time. “It takes years to go through that process,” says Dr. Williams, “but we are in the pipeline. For now, CSTF is a designation to be used only with a base professional license or to be used with pastoral counselors. Most pastoral counselors are able to practice under their rights of ordination because of the U.S. Constitution. Upon successful completion of certification, graduates are licensed to use the CSTF designation when advertising their professional credentials. Contact cstf@spiritthinking.net for more information.©