ACT is an evidence-based psychotherapy that helps individuals get unstuck. It normalizes human experiences of suffering, and targets the many ineffective ways we try to rectify it. No one means to be ineffective, but many of the things we try to do end up not accomplishing their intended ends. Part of the problem is that we trick ourselves into trusting our thoughts and feelings too much. As Christians, we are called to be people who live in truth, doers of the word and not only hearers (James 1:22), and trusting in the Lord, leaning not on our own understandings (Proverbs 3:5).
As Christians, we know that this world is not as it should be, Sin, sickness, death, and thorns all get in the way of a fulfilling life. What’s worse, unbeknownst to ourselves, sometimes our own mind and actions (or inactions) actually worsen this problem! ACT’s 6 core processes of psychological flexibility facilitate: the clarification of one’s own personally held values, committed and effective actions toward valued-ends, and develop and relate to our own external and internal worlds with an understanding and flexible response. Put another way, in this ACT framework, sometimes we simply get stuck by the way we respond to all that life throws at us in our attempts to make change or make things go away. Despite the difficulty of life with its many thorns, and the delicate nature of our own mind and mood, an abundant life is found in more than the absence of pain or difficulty. Most of the time, an abundant life is filled with meaning alongside difficulty. That’s what following the Lord’s calling is like. In fact, we are promised that we will face trials and difficulties (John 16:33). We ought to understand better than most. Sometimes our focus on our problems and getting rid of them is actually a larger part of the problem. Instead, recognizing thoughts and feelings for what they are, and orienting our life in focus and action to what is good, holy, and true will be what actually makes a difference (Phil. 4:8). That’s better than any futile quest to remove any unpleasantness in our lives. Life is more than comfort, and in fact, we will probably feel discomfort as we take steps toward meaningful things. Life can either be centered on a devoted avoidance of pain, or toward the good. It cannot be both.
“Oh Israel, put your hope in the Lord! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. (Psalm 130:7)”
ACT pairs well with mental health hygiene practices known to evidence-bases research and increasing in widespread cultural adoption such as improving sleep, movement, and nutrition. Additionally, ACT research’s findings on the importance of leading a valued-life for Christians will include: getting to church, praying, and spending time with the people we love. These things are medicine to not only our body and mind, but also to the soul of the Christian. Getting busy with trying to clean up our own thoughts and feelings instead of doing what matters may actually be the biggest contributor of what entangles us. We sort of put the carriage before the horse, or the consequence before the cause. Simply put, life isn’t meant to be lived waiting for our mind and mood to cooperate with our hopes and dreams.
As I close, I note that writing this brings to my mind this question: “if all of your unpleasant thoughts and feelings that you now see as a barrier to a full life disappeared, what would you do next”?. Think about. What is it? A new job? Throwing the baseball with your son? Reading the word and praying? Taking a walk and soaking in the sights and sounds of the world around you? Let’s focus on doing those things first, and put thoughts and feelings in their place as second fiddle, taking every thought captive for Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). If this sounds like a way forward you would like, reach out to a Christian ACT therapist today.
Kindly,
Colin