Summary of Albert Ellis & Arthur Lange's How to Keep People from Pushing Your Buttons

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 There are only three things that humans can do: think, feel, and act. We are constantly thinking, feeling, and acting, and we must learn how to direct and control our responses to those who push our buttons. #2 There are four main screwball feelings: excessive anxiety, anger/defensiveness, depression/burnout, and guilt. If you get excessively anxious, you will not handle that situation effectively. If you get excessively angry, you will not handle it well. #3 When you are overreacting, you are making yourself excessively guilty. When you are excessively guilty, others can manipulate you, and you will make decisions for all the wrong reasons. #4 The ABC’s are a model that I developed in 1955 when I began practicing Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, the first of today’s cognitive behavior therapies. They represent specific people and things that could push your buttons. The two types of Activating Events are major crises like flood, famine, disease, or war, and daily hassles, frustrations, worries, problems, decisions, and difficult people.