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The Speed of Thoughts and Beliefs: Flipping the Bird
[DISCLAIMER] I invite you to contemplate Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) through use of a psychoeducational lesson spawned by two lyricists that aren’t to be confused with rappers. For context, a rapper merely performs the function of rapping (rhythmic wordplay to a beat). Some rappers are arguably better than others. A lyricist raps while concentrating on the art of storytelling, devotes attention to written lyrics, experiments with wordplay, emphasizes poetic d

Deric Hollings
May 1513 min read


Owning Up to Personal and Collective Codes of Conduct
[DISCLAIMER] The American Psychological Association defines a rule as “a guideline or standard that is used to guide responses or behavior or that communicates situational norms.” I’ll now provide a mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”) lesson on a form of rule. When practicing Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I use personal responsibility and accountability (collectively “ownership”). For improved understanding, responsibility i

Deric Hollings
May 1510 min read


Another Night, Another Dream, but Always You
[DISCLAIMER] Regarding professional care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), there are many psychotherapeutic modalities available. My preferred model is Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) which aims to help people get better, not merely feel better. For instance, the American Psychological Association (APA) defines catharsis as “in psychoanalytic theory, the discharge of previously repressed affects connected to traumatic ev

Deric Hollings
May 1310 min read


If You Keep Tempting Me, Then Eventually...
[DISCLAIMER] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness. For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, n

Deric Hollings
May 139 min read


You Don't Have to Like Me, but You Have to Act to Like Me
[DISCLAIMER] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness. For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, n

Deric Hollings
May 136 min read


Separating the Art From the Artist: Shamone, Hee Hee
[DISCLAIMER] Earlier, when listening to 2010 A.D. (2015) by lyricist Planet Asia and producer DirtyDiggs, I heard the track “Love Hell or Right” on which the lyricist states, “Second grade, I started playin’ soccer. Michael Jackson [MJ] was the shit!” This event spawned a psychoeducational lesson. Before I discuss the psychotherapeutic modality that I favor, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I thank you for bearing with me as I discuss my own perspective on MJ and

Deric Hollings
May 1217 min read


What's Love Got to Do With It?
[DISCLAIMER] *What’s Love Got to Do With It (1993) spoilers contained herein. Photo credit, Property of Touchstone Pictures and Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, fair use My now-deceased mom was a fan of the late Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock). As such, my mother owned a vinyl record of Private Dancer (1984) and played the song “What’s Love Got to Do with It” loudly from a stereo when cleaning our home. The chorus states: What’s love got to do, got to do with it?

Deric Hollings
May 1117 min read


Violate, Then You Gotta Die
[DISCLAIMER] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness. For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, n

Deric Hollings
May 118 min read


Discomfort Anxiety: Where Are You Going?
[DISCLAIMER] In high school, after years of tolerating distorted vision, a family that invited me to live with them from the children’s home in which I was a resident took me to an optometrist. It turned out that I needed prescription eyewear. If memory serves, once I received my new glasses, I was excited about being able to see details of the leaves on a tree from a window of the optometry clinic. “See that?” the optometrist said, “That’s what you’ve been missing!” On

Deric Hollings
May 1011 min read


Political Violence: Freedom's Got a Shotgun
[DISCLAIMER] Unique disclaimer: Nothing expressed herein is meant to serve as a how-to method regarding violence, which the American Psychological Association defines as “the expression of hostility and rage with the intent to injure or damage people or property through physical force.” Readers are strongly encouraged to use personal responsibility and accountability (collectively “ownership”) when reviewing the material contained herein. As explicitly stated within my bl

Deric Hollings
May 918 min read


Havoc: How Do You Want It, Nigga?
[DISCLAIMER] *Havoc (2005) spoilers contained herein. I recently posted a blog entry on The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026), as I stated, “I enjoyed it due to appreciating the acting of Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt.” Since then, I’ve become aware of controversy surrounding Hathaway, as one source states: She’s currently riding high on the success of the hotly-anticipated sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2. Yet Anne Hathaway’s life couldn’t have be

Deric Hollings
May 916 min read


Dependency: To What Are You Enslaved?
[DISCLAIMER] As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. Throughout The Daily Stoic, references to slavery are used. According to Merriam-Webster, a slave is thusly defined: Noun – 1. someone captured, sold, or born into chattel slavery (slavery in wh

Deric Hollings
May 67 min read


I'ma Air Out My Problemz
[DISCLAIMER] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness. For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, n

Deric Hollings
May 48 min read


You Should Listen
[DISCLAIMER] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness. For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, n

Deric Hollings
May 37 min read


Eighty Years Here, We Live and We Die, It's Like a Blink of an Eye
[DISCLAIMER] When they were assembled, before apparently going on to pursue solo careers, the group Tragic Allies reminded me of golden age hip hop. Therefore, I still appreciate the album 14 Forms: The Book of Estee Nack (2015) by former group members lyricist Estee Nack and producer Purpose. As a side note, Estee Nack has more self-ascribed nicknames than any other rapper or lyricist of which I can think. A personal favorite is “Nacknuggets.” In any event, on the aforem

Deric Hollings
May 27 min read


Willfully Stuck: I'm Stuck in My Ways
[DISCLAIMER] On his album Wednesday After Next (2019), rapper Chris Webby featured the song “Stuck in My Ways” in which he states, “While these minutes on the clock tickin’, either learn to love me as the man I am, or don’t, but I’m not switching,” and he continues on a chorus by admitting: I’m stuck in my ways, stuck in my ways They saying that I gotta grow up, and to start acting my age I ain’t saying I’ma never change But some things’ll always be the same I’m stuck in

Deric Hollings
Apr 308 min read


Alternate Reality: Negative and Unhealthy Delusional Jealousy and Envy
[DISCLAIMER] Alternate Reality and Delusion On hip hop producer Nohokai’s album Mixed Emotions (2020) is the track “Golden Goose”, which features lyricist Slaine, as well as lyricist and singer Rite Hook. As it pertains to the current blogpost, Slaine states on his second verse: I guess it was all along I had known the truth That I was viewed as a golden goose These fruit loops want juice that they don’t produce So what happens when the chickens come home to roost? It’s

Deric Hollings
Apr 3025 min read


Maybe We Should Wanna Run Far Away
[DISCLAIMER] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness. For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, n

Deric Hollings
Apr 277 min read


Pain Away: Learned Helplessness
[DISCLAIMER] On his fifth studio album OMW2 Rexdale (2025) rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer Nav released the song “Pain Away”. Lyrics of the chorus state: (Take all my pain away) You just like medicine, you take my pain away (Take all my pain) You just like therapy, you take good care of me (Take all my pain away) You just like Novocain, you gon’ numb the pain (Take all my pain) You just like therapy, you take good care of me On the track, Nav addresses t

Deric Hollings
Apr 268 min read


Haters
[DISCLAIMER] Although I’ve used it on occasion, I was never fond of the term “haters” (people who hate someone or something, especially regarding jealousy and envy concerning the possessions or accomplishments of others). Still, this term has been virtually inescapable within hip hop. As an example, on their album Til We Die (2000), Memphis-based hip hop trio Project Playaz (rappers Criminal Manne, Thugsta and Yo Lynch) released the song “Hater”. Lyrics include “haters, y

Deric Hollings
Apr 256 min read
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