tug-of-war script 15-1...2015/01/02  · suppose you are playing tug-of-war with a monster. the...

Text©ThirdWavePsychotherapy/SeaghanColeman,LCSW2015Images©JerryKong

www.ThirdWavePyschotherapy.netpermissiongrantedtocopyfreelyforclientuse

AcceptanceandCommitmentTherapyTug-of-WarMetaphorScript

Supposeyouareplayingtug-of-warwithamonster.Themonsterisametaphorforthebasicfactthatproblemsexistinyourlife.Itmayrepresentdepression,feelingsofshame,physicalpain,oranythingelse.Betweenyouandthemonster,isahuge,apparentlybottomless,pit.Itmayoftenfeellikeyourproblemsareoverwhelming.Atthosetimes,youmightfeellikethemonsterisgoingtopullyouintothepitanditwillbe“gameover.”Youalsomightthinkthatifyoucouldpullontherope,justtherightway,thenyoucouldpullthemonsterintothepit.Thenyouwouldnothaveanyproblemsanymore!Wouldn’tthatbeawesome?

Ashardasyoutry,though,itjustseemsimpossibletopullthemonsterintothepit.Youtrycoilingtheropearoundyourhandsanddiggingyourfeetintothegroundbetterinordertotryevenhardertopullthemonsterintothepit,butitjustdoesn’twork.

Text©ThirdWavePsychotherapy/SeaghanColeman,LCSW2015Images©JerryKong

www.ThirdWavePyschotherapy.netpermissiongrantedtocopyfreelyforclientuse

Whydoesn'titwork?Because,aswehavetalkedabout,perhapsthereisnosuchthingasalifethatdoesn’tinvolveproblems.Andinthemeanwhile,offinanotherdirectionliesthethingsthatareimportanttoyou-yourvalues.Youfeelthedeepdesiretomovetowardswhatisimportanttoyou,butifyoudothat,youworrythatthemonsterwillcomeafteryou.Thepitisdeep,butnotsowidethatthemonstercan’tjumpoveritandbotheryou.So,aslongasyoufeeltheneedtotugontherope,youcan’tmovetowardsthethingsthatmattertoyou.So,whatdoyoudo?That’sright,youdroptherope.

Whatdoesthatmeanreally?Ifyouletgooftherope,themonstercannowwanderaroundfreely.Theproblemsthatyouface,especiallythingslikeworries, negative thoughts, and other negative emotions, feel scary, but can they actually harm you? No.

Text©ThirdWavePsychotherapy/SeaghanColeman,LCSW2015Images©JerryKong

www.ThirdWavePyschotherapy.netpermissiongrantedtocopyfreelyforclientuse

So, letting go of the rope means letting things like thingslikeworries, negative thoughts, and other negative emotions show up and do whatever they do while you move toward what is important to you.