1When a feeling pushes you to hide or lash out and it does not fit the facts, gently do the opposite.
Fear says withdraw; step forward. Anger says strike; soften. When the urge misfits reality, act against it.
Where it sits. DBT and ACT, opposite action and values-based action
Islamic evidence
Repel evil with good (Quran 23:96). Answering an ugly pull with its opposite good is the move being named.
“Repel evil with good- We are well aware of what they attribute to Us”
Qur'an 23:96
Psychological evidence
When an emotion does not fit the situation, doing the opposite of what it urges, approaching instead of avoiding, softening instead of striking, gradually turns the feeling down.
Linehan, M. M., Armstrong, H. E., Suarez, A., Allmon, D. and Heard, H. L. (1991). Archives of General Psychiatry · doi
Structured skills training in emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness reduces crisis behaviour and improves functioning.
Review detail
Why it works. Acting against an unhelpful emotional urge, when it does not fit the facts, weakens the emotion over time.
Feedback
none yet2Stop fighting what already is. Accepting a hard reality, without approving of it, ends the extra layer of pain.
Saying it is so is not the same as saying it is fine. Dropping the war with what already happened frees you to respond.
Where it sits. DBT, Distress Tolerance skills
Islamic evidence
Misfortunes can only happen with God's permission, and He will guide the heart of anyone who believes in Him (Quran 64:11). Accepting the decree is where the heart is guided to rest.
“Misfortunes can only happen with God’s permission––He will guide the heart of anyone who believes in Him: God knows all things––”
Qur'an 64:11
Psychological evidence
Much of our pain is the second arrow, the struggle against a reality that already is; accepting the fact, without having to like it, ends that added suffering and frees you to act.
Linehan, M. M., Armstrong, H. E., Suarez, A., Allmon, D. and Heard, H. L. (1991). Archives of General Psychiatry · doi
Structured skills training in emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness reduces crisis behaviour and improves functioning.
Review detail
Why it works. Accepting reality as it is, rather than railing against it, removes the added suffering of resistance.
Feedback
none yet3Validate your own feeling first: of course this stung. You do not need permission to feel it.
Do not add self-blame on top of a hard feeling. Let it be real, then decide what to do.
Where it sits. DBT, validation skills (GIVE)
Islamic evidence
Moses said, Lord, lift up my heart (Quran 20:25). Even a prophet asked for his heart to be eased; your feeling is allowed a place.
“Moses said, ‘Lord, lift up my heart”
Qur'an 20:25
Psychological evidence
Meeting your own emotion with acknowledgement and kindness, rather than judgement, calms it and steadies you; fighting the feeling tends to prolong it.
Neff, K. D. (2003). Self and Identity · doi
Treating oneself with kindness rather than harsh judgement supports emotional resilience and wellbeing.
Review detail
Why it works. Acknowledging your own feeling with kindness settles it faster than arguing yourself out of it.