01/20/2025
“My joy is in the way I choose to think.” - Ms. Rachel
These words are a simple, but powerful illustration of classic cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), which is not only beneficial for our children (thanks Ms. Rachel), but also helpful for us as parents! For example, instead of globally rating yourself as a bad parent, because you are allowing your child screen time, you can absolve yourself of unhealthy emotions such as guilt and shame by changing the way that you think about parenting and screen time. A healthy rational alternative thought regarding parenting and screen time might sound as follows:
“While it is preferable that my child have less screen time right now, I am not a bad parent for allowing them to watch Ms. Rachel, Sesame Street, Blippi, etc. Even if I prefer that my child has little to no screen time, I can be patient with myself, as I strive to discover a practical balance that works well for our family, and I am not a bad parent for reexamining, redefining, and even defying my own preferences at times. I am human, and sometimes it is helpful to reassess rigid ways of thinking, develop flexible wants (not treating wants as absolute needs), and be more unconditionally accepting of myself.”
Like Ms. Rachel, in CBT and REBT, we believe this less rigid and more accepting way of thinking facilitates us in achieving a deeper sense of inner peace and joy. 🤔🗝️🤗
