[A+] Do you tell yourself you’re happier than you are? Stop the gaslighting

LET'S UNLOCK WORDS AND PHRASES 🔐

relentless

[ ri-ˈlent-lis ]

adjective

- continuing in a severe or extreme way

The traffic noise is relentless.

exhortation

[ eg-zawr-'tey-shuhn ]

noun

- the act of strongly encouraging or trying to persuade someone to do something

His message is an exhortation to believers to fight for the truth.

potently

[ ˈpoh-tuhnt-lee ]

adverb

- in a very powerful, forceful, or effective way

Her arguments were strong, and potently deployed.

ostensibly

[ o-ˈsten-suh-blee ]

adverb

- apparently or seemingly; in a way that appears or claims to be one thing when it is really something else

Ostensibly, the promotion was a good thing, but it left her feeling overwhelmed.

go wrong

idiom

- something does not happen as planned or expected

Everything started to go wrong after the power went out.

LET'S READ! 📖

Direction: Read the passage aloud. Then, read it silently.

Gaslighting

COMPREHENSION CHECK 🧠 A. Directions: Identify if the statements are TRUE of FALSE. If the statement is FALSE, provide the correct answer.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

The author believes that telling yourself to build a better life is always motivating and helpful.
The pressure to improve oneself often comes from sources like social media and one’s own mind.
The author suggests that feelings of panic and despair only arise after negative life events.
The author describes the act of forcing oneself to feel happy as a form of self-gaslighting.
The author concludes that ignoring difficult feelings is the best way to eventually build a better life.

B. Direction: Answer the following questions based on the article.

What are some sources of pressure to improve oneself?
How does the author describe life when it feels overwhelming or difficult?
Can feelings of distress occur after positive events?
What does the author mean by “self-gaslighting”?
What does the author suggest is essential for building a better life?

C. Direction: Match the words in column A with their synonyms in column B.

A	B
1. bliss	a. fury
2. cruel	b. brutal
3. desolation	c. weaken
4. undermine	d. loneliness
5. rage	e. ecstasy