[ 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 ]   Earlier, when looking through video content from my time in the Marine Corps (1996-2007), for a Veterans Day  blogpost, I came across footage of my first time ice skating. In 1998, when stationed in Okinawa, Japan, I found that there was no exception to gravity’s force when on ice.   The memory of that subjectively humorous event reminded me of a Passport Rav song from his 2021 album Sand in My Carry On , entitled “ Ice Skating ”. For those who are unfamilia

[ DISCLAIMER ]   I recently visited an automotive shop for a state-mandated emissions inspection. While sitting in the lobby, a man glanced down at my exposed calves and saw a large United States (U.S.) Marine Corps tattoo, as the following dialogue ensued:   Man: You a Marine?   Me: Yes.   Man: Semper fi !   Me: Do or die! Oorah !   Man: How long’d ya do?   Me: 11 years.   Man: You were halfway to retirement. What happened?   Me: Were you a Marine?   Man: Yes, 22 years.   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 A ction occurs and you B elieve an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable a

[ DISCLAIMER ] Photo credit , property of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures fair use   When searching Reddit for content regarding daily practice  of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy  (REBT), I came across a subjectively humorous anecdote . In the post featuring a 2011 Walt Disney Animation Studios rendition of Winnie the Pooh , the following dialogue unfolds:   Piglet: [Pooh, Rabbit, Owl, Eeyore, Kanga and Roo are trapped in a hole and Piglet gets a rope - only to cut it

[ 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 ]   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

[ 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

[ 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

[ 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 ]   *Unique disclaimer: Nothing stated herein is meant to serve as legal or other forms of advice . The topic addressed in this blogpost is for psychoeducational and informational purposes only. Consult with qualified legal counsel before acting on any  measure expressed herein. Moving on.   When listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set  by Clara Datz , I heard a track entitled “ The Senses ” by Armen Miran  and Pambouk  from their 2023 EP Doors of Pe

[ 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 ]   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

[ 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

[ 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