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.
