Dr. David Burns

Actually, I have tons of shortcomings, but tell me what, why is it, is it upsetting to you that my face is red and that I'm sweating?

Actually, I have tons of shortcomings, but tell me what, why is it, is it upsetting to you that my face is red and that I'm sweating?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Right. Right. But the people often resist enlightenment. That's been the Buddha's problem 2,500 years ago and ever since when he's gotten reincarnated over and over in different individuals. He keeps noticing that people don't want to do the very thing that will give them enlightenment.

Right. Right. But the people often resist enlightenment. That's been the Buddha's problem 2,500 years ago and ever since when he's gotten reincarnated over and over in different individuals. He keeps noticing that people don't want to do the very thing that will give them enlightenment.

And the Buddha found that frustrating 2,500 years ago, and still he finds it frustrating in many of his current incarnations. But the reason that people are afraid is you think that acceptance is the same as giving up or giving in and that something terrible is going to happen. And so you think you have to change yourself in some way to be special, to be lovable, to be worthwhile.

And the Buddha found that frustrating 2,500 years ago, and still he finds it frustrating in many of his current incarnations. But the reason that people are afraid is you think that acceptance is the same as giving up or giving in and that something terrible is going to happen. And so you think you have to change yourself in some way to be special, to be lovable, to be worthwhile.

And that's the cause of your misery. And that's the distortion that's causing your pain. Your pain never came from blushing. Your pain came from your own lack of self-acceptance, your own self-criticism. Other people's criticisms of you could never upset you unless you buy into them. And then it's your own thoughts that you're believing that's upsetting you.

And that's the cause of your misery. And that's the distortion that's causing your pain. Your pain never came from blushing. Your pain came from your own lack of self-acceptance, your own self-criticism. Other people's criticisms of you could never upset you unless you buy into them. And then it's your own thoughts that you're believing that's upsetting you.

So let's do a couple more role reversals to see if we can drive this home. Could I talk to you for a minute, Rhonda, or whatever your name is?

So let's do a couple more role reversals to see if we can drive this home. Could I talk to you for a minute, Rhonda, or whatever your name is?

Your face just turned bright red. Are you blushing?

Your face just turned bright red. Are you blushing?

Oh, that's a childish thing to do. That's ridiculous for a grown adult to be blushing. Do you realize how silly and ridiculous you look right now? I mean, everybody, come and look at this woman. Her face is as bright as a stoplight. It's red, bright red.

Oh, that's a childish thing to do. That's ridiculous for a grown adult to be blushing. Do you realize how silly and ridiculous you look right now? I mean, everybody, come and look at this woman. Her face is as bright as a stoplight. It's red, bright red.

Oh, yeah. I have a friend who works for the Palo Alto Times newspaper. And I'm going to mention to them, you know, so they can run an article on you and how ridiculous you are with a grown woman blushing and sweating for no reason at all.

Oh, yeah. I have a friend who works for the Palo Alto Times newspaper. And I'm going to mention to them, you know, so they can run an article on you and how ridiculous you are with a grown woman blushing and sweating for no reason at all.