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Hypotheses and Foregone Conclusions
[ DISCLAIMER ] When listening to an episode of the DarkHorse Podcast in which biologist Bret Weinstein interviewed attorney Aaron Siri , it occurred to me that some people with whom I’ve practiced Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) may benefit from the message, as Weinstein stated: What you’re describing is foregone conclusions. Right? They [pharmaceutical companies] make a product, it is presumed safe and effective, and then scientific work is done to justif
Deric Hollings
Dec 26, 202510 min read
You See Right Through Me
[ DISCLAIMER ] I recall listening to rapper Lil Wayne ’s ninth mixtape, No Ceilings (2009), and hearing the track “ Sweet Dreams ” which featured vocalist Beyoncé and rapper Nicki Minaj . Thus, it was around the time of hip hop label Young Money Entertainment ’s reign that I became familiar with Minaj. Personally, Minaj is a rapper and not a lyricist. For context, a lyricist concentrates on the art of storytelling, devotes attention toward written lyrics, experiments wi
Deric Hollings
Dec 26, 20257 min read
How Goes Your Rube Goldberg Machine?
[ 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 emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius who stated, “You could enjoy this very moment all the things you are praying to reach by taking the long way
Deric Hollings
Dec 26, 20255 min read
Don't Be Afraid to Be Different
[ DISCLAIMER ] * PLUR1BUS (2025) spoilers contained herein. Photo credit , property of Apple TV, fair use Personal Anecdote Before knowing anything about tools of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), namely the ABC model (a scientific method of disputing one’s irrational beliefs ) and unconditional acceptance (UA; a philosophical method of tolerating unpleasant events), I suffered quite a bit. From a young age, I was always different (partly or totally u
Deric Hollings
Dec 25, 202519 min read
If at First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again
[ 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 Epictetus who stated, “If you are defeated once and tell yourself you will overcome, but carry on as before, know in the end you’ll be so ill and weakened that eventuall
Deric Hollings
Dec 25, 20259 min read
I Had to Have You
[ 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 A ction occurs and you B elieve an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable a
Deric Hollings
Dec 24, 20257 min read
Some People Advocate Walking
[ 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, “We should take wandering outdoor walks, so that the mind might be nourished and refreshed by the open air and deep breath
Deric Hollings
Dec 24, 20256 min read
Too Bad
[ DISCLAIMER ] Too Bad On the 2024 EP She. , rapper ARDN featured the track “ Too Bad ” in which he stated, “Too bad I… too bad, I know. Too bad I know. Too bad, I gotta get going. She too bad, I know. Too bad, I know. Too bad, I gotta get going.” Considering the cited lyrics, definitions may be helpful. The phrase “too bad” may be used to show that one is sorry or feels bad about something. For example, when departing from a location in which his romantic partner
Deric Hollings
Dec 23, 202511 min read
Wit' Whateva You Wit'
[ 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 A ction occurs and you B elieve an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable a
Deric Hollings
Dec 23, 202511 min read
Keep Calm and Carry On
[ DISCLAIMER ] When serving as military police (MP) in the United States (U.S.) Marine Corps, I responded to bomb threats (threats, verbal or written, to detonate an explosive or incendiary device to cause property damage, death, injuries, and/or incite fear , whether or not such a device actually exists). Then, when serving as a Marine Security Guard (MSG), I received specialized training for how to respond to such threats. This was especially important, because of U.
Deric Hollings
Dec 23, 20259 min read
Self-Deprecation: I've Come a Long Way
[ DISCLAIMER ] Earlier this morning, when conducting my daily physical training activities, I heard the song “ Roaches ” from the album Punken (2018) by groovy Houston lyricist Maxo Kream . At the end of the track, a woman believed to be Maxo’s mom states: Punken, pull your pants up, boy But you know what? Punken, I’m so proud of you You came a long way Keep it up with your music You doin’ good, keep doin’ you The vocal tone and inflection of the woman at the end of “R
Deric Hollings
Dec 22, 202513 min read
How I Feel (Am I Wrong)
[ DISCLAIMER ] When recently listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by DJ Ellika , I heard her spin the track “ How I Feel (Am I Wrong) ” by Faul & Wad , Nico & Vinz , ALTÉGO , and Old Jim . Lyrics include the following: So, am I wrong ? For thinkin’ that we could be something for real? Now, am I wrong? For tryna reach the things that I can’t see? But that’s just how I feel (ooh) That’s just how I feel (ooh) That’s just how I feel Tryna reach the things th
Deric Hollings
Dec 22, 20259 min read
Look at Everything Close Up
[ DISCLAIMER ] While on voluntary appellate leave from the Marine Corps, after experiencing administrative and legal problems , I relied heavily on a family for support. Though we weren’t biologically related, they were the family with whom I lived after my residence at a children’s home in my youth. Between their two adult-aged daughters, there were six young boys who I viewed as my unrelated “nephews.” When engaging with them in the moment, I lost sight of my military w
Deric Hollings
Dec 22, 20256 min read
The Awful, Very Bad, Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Unacceptable Elements of Life
[ DISCLAIMER ] With the exception of a couple years in my youth during which I lived in Aurora, Colorado, I was born and raised in Amarillo, Texas. With the latest estimate of a Texas citizenry comprised of 40.2% Hispanic or Latino people, I suspect this figure was similarly-sized during my youth. As such, I was raised around a lot of Mexicans. Notably, during the ignorance of adolescence, I befriended Mexican gang members predominately affiliated with the Crips and Su
Deric Hollings
Dec 21, 202516 min read
Keep On Doing It, and I Shouldn't
[ 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 A ction occurs and you B elieve an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable a
Deric Hollings
Dec 21, 20258 min read
I Didn't Write the Book, and It's a Good Thing I Didn't
[ DISCLAIMER ] Photo credit , fair use In a blogpost entitled Unconditional Acceptance , I shared an aphorism from my late stepmom. She was a religious individual, as I also subscribed to the tenets of Christianity back then. Thus, from time to time, she’d say, “I didn’t write the book [Bible], and it’s a good thing I didn’t.” What was meant by this adage is that my stepmom recognized her fallibility . Unlike Jehovah, Yahweh, Allah, or other names attributed to deities of
Deric Hollings
Dec 21, 20256 min read
Even Concerning Your Nightmares
[ DISCLAIMER ] * Dreams (2025) spoilers contained herein. Photo credit , property of Imagem Films and Greenwich Entertainment, fair use I’m a fan of Jessica Chastain ’s acting. Still, I was somehow late to the viewing of Dreams (2025) in which Chastain and Isaac Hernández depict an intimate partner relationship that represents a romantic union of one’s dreams (series of thoughts , images, or emotions occurring during sleep). However, as the film progresses, those dr
Deric Hollings
Dec 21, 202512 min read
Imposter Syndrome: Here We Go Again
[ DISCLAIMER ] In the ‘90s, I visited Estes Park, Colorado with a small group of people. We attended local shops, spent time doing silly, playful, and unimportant things, and we took photos on 35 mm film . Back in those days, it seemed as though life was timeless. Of course, that perception was incorrect. All these years later, I look at the above photo of me pretending to play a xylophone-type of instrument while wearing a fresh Ralph Lauren polo shirt with a Universi
Deric Hollings
Dec 20, 20258 min read
Referential Index Shift: The I-You Switch
[ DISCLAIMER ] According to one source , “Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is a pseudoscientific approach to communication, personal development, and psychotherapy ” that “asserts a connection between neurological processes, language, and acquired behavioral patterns.” While I’m not a practitioner of NLP, I appreciate some of its concepts. Specifically, I value the tool of a referential index shift. Regarding this matter, one source states: The Referential Index Sh
Deric Hollings
Dec 20, 20256 min read
An Unfortunate Strategy
[ 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 Stoic philosopher Seneca who stated, “Fortune doesn’t have the long reach we suppose, she can only lay siege to those who hold her tight. So, let’s step back from her as
Deric Hollings
Dec 20, 20256 min read
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