[ DISCLAIMER ]   When serving in the United States Marine Corps (1996-2007) in the billet of military police (MP), I was introduced to the concept of muscle memory . Regarding this topic, one source states:   Muscle memory is a form of procedural memory that involves consolidating a specific motor task into memory through repetition, which has been used synonymously with motor learning.   When a movement is repeated over time, the brain creates a long-term muscle memory for

[ DISCLAIMER ] Photo credit , fair use   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, “ Pay attention to what’s in front of you —the principle , the task, or what’s being portra

[ DISCLAIMER ]   Earlier, when working out, I heard the song “ Unruly ” from the album Speshal Machinery: The Ghronic Edition  (2024) by Conway the Machine  and Big Ghost Ltd. , as the track features 38 Spesh . Notably, I briefly paused my physical training routine when listening to 38 Spesh’s verse:   Ayo, now, where your heart go? I’ma make sure that you bleed awful No joke; to match my smoke , you gon’ need charcoal Seen Narcos ? I transport extreme cargo And I don’t call

[ DISCLAIMER ]   Many years ago, when I was relatively new to the field of mental, emotional, and behavioral health  (collectively “mental health”), I worked with children (also referred to as “littles”). On one particular day, the woman tasked with training me used an expression I found humorous.   “How do you eat an elephant?” she asked a little as I shadowed my trainer. The child client sat for a moment and thought. “I don’t know,” the little said when shrugging. “One bite

[ DISCLAIMER ]   Do you find that comparison is the thief of joy , as you covet ( desire  what belongs to another, inordinately or culpably) the possessions or lived experience  of other individuals? If so, you aren’t alone. In fact, there’s an expression regarding such behavior, as one source states:   “Keeping up with the Joneses” is an idiom, or popular phrase, that refers to the pressure to “keep up” with your neighbor’s social status, wealth, or popularity. It refers t

[ DISCLAIMER ]   The above photo was taken during a Marine Corps noncommissioned officer (NCO) Mess Night , which is a formal, traditional dinner and ceremony that fosters camaraderie and celebrates Marine customs. In the picture, I’m featured with two of my friends (persons XX and XY).   Individuals who remain familiar with my blog are likely aware of the fact that I experienced significant administrative and legal issues  when in the Corps, as I ultimately received other th

[ 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 .   Concerning this blogpost, some defining terms may be necessary. First, the American Psychological Association (APA) defines  a habit thusly:   [A] well-learned behavior or automatic seque

[ DISCLAIMER ]   By the time family X, from a Churches of Christ congregation of which I was a member, took me into their home during my sophomore year of high school, transferring me from a children’s home, I’d already been raised under the doctrine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses for most of my life.   What family X, who lived in Amarillo, Texas, didn’t know was that when living in Aurora, Colorado between half of my fifth grade to half of my seventh grade years, I became acqu

[ 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 Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca  who stated, “The greatest portion of peace of mind is doing nothing wrong . Those who lack self-control live disoriented and di

[ 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 Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca  who stated, “Let us also produce some bold act of our own—and join the ranks of the most emulated [that to which one strives to eq

[ DISCLAIMER ]   There’s a line on lyricist Murs ’s song “ Woke Up Dead ”, produced by Jesse Shatkin and from the album Have a Nice Life (2015), that states “gettin’ older as my life gets shorter.” It’s the sort of message that at first may seem like a throwaway line.   Of course, we get older as our lives get shorter. Still, I wonder about how often (or not) people contemplate their own mortality. With each passing day, they grow older while their lives get shorter. All th

[ 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 Epictetus who stated, “Where is Good ? In our reasoned choices . Where is Evil ? In our reasoned choices . Where is that which is neither Good

[ DISCLAIMER ]   Years ago, when employed in the field of nuclear security, a coworker buddy of mine asked for help with constructing an at-home concrete walkway. In effect, he expressed reliance (the state of being reliant—having dependence on something or someone) on me for the project.   It wasn’t that my friend spoke of an inherent need (a condition requiring supply or relief), as he could’ve completed the walkway on his own. Nevertheless, reliance on me for the project

[ DISCLAIMER ] Photo credit , fair use   I performed an artificial intelligence (AI) image search query for “beautiful” (the quality or group of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure  to the senses or the mind ) and the above image was revealed. Personally, the AI individual in the photo above isn’t beautiful.   While I acknowledge that there’s no unified objective standard of beauty to which all  people are held, there remains plenty of evidence in support of th

[ DISCLAIMER ]   When transitioning from military to veteran status, I was exposed to many sterile environments in the form of multiple physicians’ offices. During that time, I underwent many physiological and psychological examinations.   “Physiological” is of or relating to physiology—the organic processes and phenomena of an organism or any of its parts or of a particular bodily process. For example, I sat upon or next to doctors’ exam beds when being prodded to determine

[ DISCLAIMER ]   Growing up in a standard slightly above abject poverty (the most severe form of poverty, defined as a lack of basic human needs like food, clean water, sanitation, and shelter), I recall watching the television series Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous  which was hosted by Robin Leach .   Although the program didn’t distract from my own circumstances (i.e., government-assisted living, roach and rat infestations, insecure housing, etc.), I’d often fantasize abo

[ 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 .   Not long ago, someone in my personal life (“person X”) realized that I conduct daily practice and provide psychoeducational lessons on the Stoic tenets of REBT. Because he appeared recep

[ DISCLAIMER ]   In 1996, the classic rap group from Queens, New York, Lost Boyz  (“LB”), released Legal Drug Money which one of my favorite old school albums from the golden age of hip hop . It was one of those anthologies which weren’t heavily polluted by useless filler (lower quality songs).   On the album was the track “ Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz ”, produced by Easy Mo Bee , which was released as a single in 1995, and on which Mr. Cheeks  stated:   Keep the shit liv

[ DISCLAIMER ]   When attending United States Marine Corps Recruit Training (1996), a drill instructor stated to my platoon, “If someday a person accused you of being a Marine, would there be enough evidence to convict you? ” His appeal was to how we would one day carry ourselves as Marines.   For instance, would we exemplify military physical fitness standards, maintain military bearing, adhere to uniform standards, and so forth? If there wasn’t enough evidence to convict on

[ DISCLAIMER ]   The above photo was taken in 1991, shortly after my sister and I were placed into the Southwest Cottage (SWC) of a children’s home. That’s when I began the informal practice of life coaching . Mainly, I assisted other children with their problems , while also aiding some adults on campus.   I’ve deliberately chosen not to clean up the highly speckled and off-centered photograph, as to represent the imperfect nature of my being ( unconditional self-acceptance