Page 15 - FS-Jeff the Monkey

COSMOS EXPLAINS JEFF THE MONKEY
Accepting the responsibility to learn difficult tasks means that you must overcome fear, anxiety and the expectation that life should be easy.
Jeff the Monkey is a story of a young monkey who refused to learn how to climb trees and ultimately was left behind to an apparent sorry fate when the monkey troop moved on.
Within the story are several of the irrational beliefs (Stinky Thinking) which contribute to problem emotions and behaviors of many children and adults. These emotions and behaviors are often associated with substance abuse. This is because the drugs and alcohol are used as coping for Under Achievement, Social Rejection and Poor Self-Image that these irrational beliefs (Stinky Thinking) cause.
Our story starts in an imaginary grove of banana trees where life is quite easy. This is similar to preschool years and sometimes beyond, when children are cared for and demands and expectations are few. Adults frequently enable this condition to continue by removing life’s difficulties from the path of children.
They thus make it possible for children to avoid the negative consequences (failing grades or punishment) of their inability to deal effectively with difficulties in life. The irrational self-messages that can develop may be something like, “Life should be easy or it is not fair!" Anyone who makes me uncomfortable or demands that I do something I don’t want to do is just being mean and should be ignored.” Can you see that is one of Jeff’s main beliefs?
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