In ACT, we try to undermine efforts to control our emotional or mental experience in exchange for focusing on valued directions and actions.
That means, we try to rebalance peoples’ focus on what they think and feel more towards what they actually do with their hands and feet.
I say rebalance because there’s nothing wrong with mental experience. It’s just that, humans being humans, we tend to experience more and more of life indirectly, or mindlessly, and this has the effect of robbing us of vitality and purpose. And in the workplace, it tends to mean repeating the same old routine, even when that routine is ineffective.
Trouble is, ACT is counter-cultural. The culture says you do not need to feel bad, ever. The culture says you can feel good if only you try harder, think better…or make the right choices.
If you doubt me, take a look at this:
Working with ACT 