[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. In part, REBT serves as a philosophical approach to mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”). The ultimate aim (to direct toward a specified object or goal) of this

[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. Ancient philosopher Epictetus stated, “What, then, makes a person free from hindrance and self-determining? For wealth doesn’t, neither does high-office, state or kingdom—rather, something else mu

[DISCLAIMER] When serving as a Marine Security Guard in Lima, Peru (2000-2001), I posed for the above photo when standing adjacent to the Fountain of the Plaza Mayor. Originally inaugurated in 1578, with retouching since, it features a statue of Pheme, one of the gods of Ancient Greece. During the time I was assigned to a diplomatic post in Lima, I remained a member of the Churches of Christ. As well, I still subscribed to tenets up with which I was raised in regard to the

[DISCLAIMER] With my approach to mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), I use unconditional acceptance (UA). When teaching psychoeducational lessons on this helpful tool, I invite people to accept – without unfavorable conditions – that they are imperfect. For example, as a fallible human being, I don’t tell myself something along the lines of, “Unless I can be entirely without fault or defect, then I won’t endure without protest or react

[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. The authors quote ancient Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius who stated, “So someone’s good at taking down an opponent, but that doesn’t make them more community-minded, or modest, or well-prepared

[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. Ancient and modern Stoics tend not to shy away from the topic of death. Colloquially speaking, someone is said to be “gone” once they die. After a relatively lengthy period of time has passed, one

[DISCLAIMER] In Separating the Art From the Artist: Shamone, Hee Hee, I discussed my fondness for the entertainment content of singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist Michael Jackson, dubbed the “King of Pop”, irrespective of controversial matters surrounding his personal life, as I said: Thriller [1982] is as close to a flawless album as any I’ve ever heard! I say this as one who maintains that fallible human beings are incapable of achieving perfection. In view o

[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. Herein, I’ll discuss my evolved perspective on life when viewed through the proverbial corrective lenses of REBT and Stoicism. In this way, I’m addressing how a subjective view has altered my unde

[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. The authors quote ancient philosopher Marcus Aurelius who stated, “There’s nothing worse than a wolf befriending sheep. Avoid false friendship at all costs. If you are good, straightforward, and w

[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. The authors quote ancient Stoic philosopher Seneca who stated, “A benefit should be kept like a buried treasure, only to be dug up in necessity. . . . Nature bids us to do well by all. . . . Where

[DISCLAIMER] In the above photo, intentionally not edited so that I could authentically present a moment of imperfection (the quality or state of being imperfect—fallible, such as flawed in form, structure, or function), as a teenager, I knocked upon the hotel door of a female adolescent. For clarity, when referring to the physical action of hitting a door to announce one’s presence, the standard phrasing is “knock on a door”. Still, “knock upon a door” is also grammatica

[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. The authors quote Marcus Aurelius who stated, “Everything turns on your assumptions about it, and that’s on you. You can pluck out the hasty judgment at will, and like steering a ship around the p

[DISCLAIMER] In adolescence, I was taught to compliment females (girls and women) so that they could experience satisfying outcomes. Specifically, the matriarch of a family that invited me to live with them when I was a teenager told me about which types of accolades were most desired. “We like it when you [males (boys and men)] notice that we’ve gotten a haircut—whether or not it looks good,” she said.” “Tell us nice things, like we’re wearing a pretty dress, we smell ni

[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. The authors quote ancient Stoic philosopher and Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius who stated, “The best way to avenge yourself is to not be like that” (page 312). For context, “avenge” is defined as e

[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. The authors quote ancient Stoic philosopher Seneca who stated, “Hecato says, ‘I can teach you a love potion made without any drugs, herbs, or special spell—if you would be loved, love’” (page 311)

[DISCLAIMER] When undergoing clinical supervision for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, the man who supervised me had an affinity for goats. In the above image, you can see a photo of his pet goats which was kept in one of his practice offices. Since I was raised to view animals as either (1) sources of food or (2) instruments of labor, I was indifferent to my supervisor’s affection for pet goats. Of course, using this deg

[DISCLAIMER] My primary military occupational specialty when enlisted in the United States (U.S.) Marine Corps was military police (MP). My secondary billet was Marine Security Guard (MSG). In the above photo, as an MSG, I was assigned to the U.S. Embassy, Lima, Peru (2000-2001). Initially, I was ignorant (lacking knowledge, education, or awareness) about how MSGs supported the mission of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). However, once I gained knowledge, wisdom, and

[DISCLAIMER] In 1997, while enlisted in the United States (U.S.) Marine Corps and assigned to Fort McClellan in Anniston, Alabama, I graduated from the U.S. Army Military Police School, officially completing my initial training for military police (MP). I was part of class 05-97 (“class 5”). While undergoing MP training, my class advisor, a staff sergeant and former drill instructor, devoted a fair amount of time toward mentoring trainees under his charge. He taught me fa

[DISCLAIMER] While attending festivities for the United States Marine Corps Birthday when stationed in Okinawa, Japan (1997-1999), I was given the option between prime rib and chicken as a main dish. Unfamiliar with the former, I chose it, because my friends told me about how good it was. Turns out, I don’t like prime rib… not even the visual display with all the fat adorning the cut of meat. For context, when residing in a children’s home in my adolescence, I was served

[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. The authors quote Marcus Aurelius, ancient Stoic philosopher and emperor of Rome, who stated, “The person who does wrong, does wrong to themselves. The unjust person is unjust to themselves—making