The need to solve problems
Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) was initially introduced by the American psychotherapist Albert Ellis in the 1950’s. It is a structured and time limited comprehensive psychotherapy that focuses on resolving emotional and behavioral turbulence in the human mind. The outcome, like all forms of psychotherapy is an enriched and fulfilling existence. As the name suggests it focuses on the rational (reasoning), emotive (feelings and emotions), and behavioral (actions) components to gain a complete understanding of the nature of one’s problems and thereby take appropriate steps to solve them.
Deficiency of a few things in life may cause severely negative outcomes: food, clothing, shelter, water, even love. These things are indispensable for subsistence and are categorized as ‘needs’. They are often subjective and felt differently by people. There is a frequent mix-up of needs and wants and the underlying emotional tone of needs and wants time and again adds to the confusion.
- I need to get through this exam
- I need to lose 5 kgs this month
- I need a new outfit for the prom
- I need this new job desperately
- I need to teach him a lesson
- I need to win the beauty contest
Needs have been a favored topic of discussion by philosophers, psychologists as well as politicians. Needless to say; everyone has needs!
What we know
Science has attempted to offer elucidation of everything; the gender of an unborn child, estimate of earthquake strength, and prediction of hailstorms to prospects of success; it even explicates the rise of criminality based on statistical calculation. Events that inspire awe and amazement may arouse curiosity about their causality, and when it fails to surface, attributions that by pass science become rampant. When there is no physical process linking the cause an event, it classically qualifies superstition (according to the evolved lot of humans). When you know why it happens; its science, when you don’t, its superstition.
Worry and apprehension are normal. At some point in time while we have been on vacation, each one of us has felt a surging anxiety about whether we turned the water tap off or disconnected the gas or locked the door appropriately. Praying or performing ritualistic offerings to ease off worry before a presentation or examination or important life event is a norm in several cultures. Getting negative thoughts amidst positive life events is also a typical reaction because one needs to be prepared for the worst in every situation. Keeping track of adverse outcomes midst confident efforts is the way to go. That's called positive pessimism and it works in all situations. However excessive and unwanted worry that does not lead to betterment in performance, rather acts as an obstruction to it, warrants attention.
