Steven C Hayes, a leading psychologist and co-founder of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), shares his insights on navigating emotions and taking action towards a value-driven life. He discusses the importance of psychological flexibility and how accepting our difficult emotions can lead to personal growth. The conversation highlights the distinction between pain and suffering, the downsides of comparison, and innovative strategies for managing intrusive thoughts. With a mix of personal anecdotes, Hayes inspires listeners to embrace discomfort for emotional resilience.
Effective personal transformation requires proper guidance and support to avoid the pitfalls of fleeting resolutions.
Embracing values-based actions helps individuals navigate challenges and fosters resilience by aligning habits with what truly matters.
Deep dives
Embracing Change for Growth
The podcast emphasizes that the start of a new year is an opportune time for personal transformation. Many individuals seek to make changes in their lives, whether through developing new habits, pursuing career goals, or launching creative projects. However, the discussion stresses the importance of having proper guidance and support in achieving lasting change, rather than falling into the trap of short-lived New Year's resolutions. The personal transformation program mentioned offers one-on-one coaching to help people navigate their desired changes successfully and sustainably.
The Burden of Thoughts
A central theme of the discussion revolves around the idea that unexamined thoughts can lead individuals astray, resulting in suffering. It highlights a parable of two wolves within us: one representing positive traits like kindness and love, while the other embodies negativity like fear and greed. The outcome of this internal conflict is determined by which wolf we choose to feed—our thoughts can significantly affect our emotional state and overall quality of life. By fostering awareness and intentionality in our thought processes, individuals can steer their lives toward more positive experiences.
Pain vs. Suffering
The podcast delves into the distinction between pain, which is a natural part of life, and suffering, which is often self-inflicted through avoidance and cognitive fusion. The conversation explains that while pain is unavoidable, unnecessary suffering arises when we mishandle our thoughts and feelings. This suffering can become compounded by our attempts to suppress or deny our emotional experiences, leading to a cycle of distress. By learning to accept and navigate our feelings instead of avoiding them, individuals can experience life more fully without being crippled by their emotions.
The Importance of Values-Based Living
Another key insight from the podcast is the significance of living in alignment with one's values, which can promote meaningful life experiences. The idea of creating larger behavioral patterns rooted in personal values offers a framework for making enduring changes in habits and lifestyle. When individuals focus on building consistent actions aligned with their values, they become more resilient in the face of challenges, as these habits provide a foundation to draw from. Embracing values-based action allows people to shift their attention from immediate discomforts to what truly matters in their lives, ultimately leading to more fulfilling existence.
Steven C Hayes is Nevada Foundation Professor at the Department of Psychology at the University of Nevada. He is an author of over 35 books and over 500 scientific articles. He is considered one of the founders of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
In 1992 he was listed by the Institute for Scientific Information as the 30th “highest impact” psychologist in the world. His work has been recognized by several awards including the Exemplary Contributions to Basic Behavioral Research and Its Applications from Division 25 of APA, the Impact of Science on Application award from the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.
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