Accepting Reality

Worksheet Description

The “Accepting Reality” worksheet is a reflective exercise from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) that encourages students to confront and process aspects of their life they find difficult to accept. The worksheet prompts students to describe a current situation in their life that they are resisting or struggling to accept. It then guides them to identify and circle behavioral responses they might be exhibiting as a result of this non-acceptance, such as avoidance, arguments, quitting, manipulating, tantrums, and ultimatums, while also leaving space for any additional personal behaviors.

The exercise proceeds to ask students to reflect on the emotions that arise from these behaviors, facilitating a deeper understanding of the impact of their actions on their emotional state. Finally, the worksheet invites students to imagine a shift in their perspective by considering how it would feel to stop resisting the reality of the situation. This part of the activity is designed to help students recognize the potential relief and peace that can come from acceptance. By working through this worksheet, students can begin to develop the emotional agility needed to accept life’s challenges more gracefully and to move towards a more mindful and less reactive state of being.