From Rigid to Resilient: Seven Biblical Processes That Mirror ACT

The "He Must Increase Model" Explained

Research has revealed that psychological rigidity is linked to, and can predict, mental and emotional health issues, while psychological flexibility is associated with better mental and emotional health (Bond & Bunce, 2003; Bond et al., 2011; Hayes, Strosahl, et al., 2004; Hayes, Wilson, et al., 1996; Kashdan et al., 2006; Kashdan & Rottenberg, 2010; Ruiz, 2010). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) describes psychological flexibility through six interrelated processes (Hayes, Luoma, et al., 2006), several of which research supports as active ingredients of change (Levin et al., 2012), often grouped into three broader capacities: open, aware, and active (Hayes, Villatte, et al., 2011).

Did I lose you yet? Hang in there, because the rest gets much easier to understand. When I was initially taught the six processes of ACT, my theology brain kicked in, and all I could hear were biblical principles. Upon further study of Scripture and years of walking through these principles with clients, I recognized seven basic biblical processes that every child of God is instructed to embrace.

Seven Spiritual Processes (with the correlating ACT process in parentheses)

1. Embrace the Sovereignty of God (Acceptance)

2. Embrace the Grace of God (Acceptance)

3. Embrace the Presence of God (Present-Moment Awareness)

4. Embrace the Perspective of God (Self-as-Context)

5. Embrace your Identity in Christ (Defusion)

6. Embrace the Mind of Christ (Values)

7. Embrace the Christ Life (Committed Action)

   
   

The six processes of ACT work together to build psychological flexibility, and research suggests that increased flexibility is a key mechanism through which ACT improves mental health and well-being (Hayes, Luoma, et al., 2006; Hayes, Villatte, et al., 2011; Stockton et al., 2019). Over the years, I have observed something similar in the people I've worked with: when they genuinely embrace these seven spiritual processes, they often report a greater sense of peace, steadiness, and well-being. What is most interesting is that most of my clients inform me that they are aware of these doctrines and believe them to varying degrees, but the gap was in actually living in light of those doctrines. Explaining these processes in a practical manner has helped many of them experience both spiritual growth and a greater sense of well-being.

If living the six processes of ACT builds psychological flexibility and supports mental and emotional health, consider what I have seen when people embrace these seven spiritual processes: their lives become increasingly marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23, ESV). Did you catch that? Those are characteristics produced in us through the indwelling Holy Spirit, not by our own effort. Embracing these processes is not what produces that fruit; it is how we yield to the One who does. That is the heart of what I call the He Must Increase Model, drawn from John the Baptist’s words in John 3:30: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” The more we are yielded to Him, the more those characteristics become evident. Therefore, could we say that a life lived yielded to the Holy Spirit might have a positive effect on our mental and emotional health, while recognizing that some struggles also have biological or medical components that call for professional care?

Are you looking for a biblically grounded, research-informed way to keep growing in your mental and emotional well-being? As a trained Professional Mental Health Coach, I may be able to help you wherever you live in the United States. Coaching is not counseling or therapy: I don't diagnose or treat mental health conditions. Instead, I help people build practical life skills and spiritual practices that support the progress they've made with their counselors and help them continue to grow. Over the years, I have walked alongside hundreds of people, and I would be honored to walk alongside you next. Email me or complete the contact form on my website today, and I will usually respond within one to two business days to schedule our first session. I look forward to hearing from you very soon!

If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, please call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911.

References

Bond, F. W., & Bunce, D. (2003). The role of acceptance and job control in mental health, job satisfaction, and work performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(6), 1057–1067. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.6.1057

Bond, F. W., Hayes, S. C., Baer, R. A., Carpenter, K. M., Guenole, N., Orcutt, H. K., Waltz, T., & Zettle, R. D. (2011). Preliminary psychometric properties of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire–II: A revised measure of psychological inflexibility and experiential avoidance. Behavior Therapy, 42(4), 676–688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2011.03.007

Hayes, S. C., Luoma, J. B., Bond, F. W., Masuda, A., & Lillis, J. (2006). Acceptance and commitment therapy: Model, processes and outcomes. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2005.06.006

Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K., Wilson, K. G., Bissett, R. T., Pistorello, J., Toarmino, D., Polusny, M. A., Dykstra, T. A., Batten, S. V., Bergan, J., Stewart, S. H., Zvolensky, M. J., Eifert, G. H., Bond, F. W., Forsyth, J. P., Karekla, M., & McCurry, S. M. (2004). Measuring experiential avoidance: A preliminary test of a working model. The Psychological Record, 54(4), 553–578. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395492

Hayes, S. C., Villatte, M., Levin, M. E., & Hildebrandt, M. J. (2011). Open, aware, and active: Contextual approaches as an emerging trend in the behavioral and cognitive therapies. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 7, 141–168. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032210-104449

Hayes, S. C., Wilson, K. G., Gifford, E. V., Follette, V. M., & Strosahl, K. (1996). Experiential avoidance and behavioral disorders: A functional dimensional approach to diagnosis and treatment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64(6), 1152–1168. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.64.6.1152

Kashdan, T. B., Barrios, V., Forsyth, J. P., & Steger, M. F. (2006). Experiential avoidance as a generalized psychological vulnerability: Comparisons with coping and emotion regulation strategies. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44(9), 1301–1320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2005.10.003

Kashdan, T. B., & Rottenberg, J. (2010). Psychological flexibility as a fundamental aspect of health. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(7), 865–878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.001

Levin, M. E., Hildebrandt, M. J., Lillis, J., & Hayes, S. C. (2012). The impact of treatment components suggested by the psychological flexibility model: A meta-analysis of laboratory-based component studies. Behavior Therapy, 43(4), 741–756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2012.05.003

Ruiz, F. J. (2010). A review of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) empirical evidence: Correlational, experimental psychopathology, component and outcome studies. International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy, 10(1), 125–162.

Stockton, D., Kellett, S., Berrios, R., Sirois, F., Wilkinson, N., & Miles, G. (2019). Identifying the underlying mechanisms of change during acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): A systematic review of contemporary mediation studies. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 47(3), 332–362. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1352465818000553