Identifying irrational core beliefs

1. Mistakes are unacceptable. You are incompetent if you make a mistake.

2. I must be liked by all people to reach satisfaction in life.

3. There is no grey area, only black and white, when defining success and failure.

4. The outcome must be perfect or else it is a failure.

5. I control my life. When something bad happens, it is my fault.

6. My value depends on what other people think of me.

7. People who disagree me are attacking me and my character.

8. I have to be loved or I am not lovable.

9. I have to control events and people because they dictate how I feel.

10. I have to worry about dangerous and risky things.

11. In order to be content, I have to avoid responsibilities and problems.

12. I have to be forever controlled by my past.

13. It is absolutely necessary to be loved by a significant other, or you will be alone forever.

14. I am helpless.

15. I am powerless.

16. I am out of control.

17. I am weak.

18. I am vulnerable.

19. I am needy.

20. I am trapped.

21. I am inadequate.

22. I am ineffective.

23. I am incompetent.

24. I am a failure.

25. I am disrespected.

26. I am defective — I do not measure up to others.

27. I am unlovable.

28. I am unlikeable.

29. I am undesirable.

30. I am unattractive.

31. I am unwanted.

32. I am uncared for.

33. I am bad.

34. I am unworthy.

35. I am different.

36. I am not good enough.

37. I am bound to be rejected.

38. I am bound to be abandoned.

39. I am bound to be alone.