top of page

Blog Reminder
Please be mindful of the fact that if you subscribe to or comment on this blog, others may be able to see the name and/or contact details you enter. If you are uncomfortable with the self-initiated release of your name, you are encouraged to consider this reminder and use whatever option serves you best. Solicitation, marketing, botting, and other web-scraping subscriptions will be removed.


Higher Learning and Class Struggle: If There Is No Struggle, There Is No Progress
[DISCLAIMER] *Ladies First (2026) and Higher Learning (1995) spoilers contained herein. Ladies First I recently watched Ladies First (2026) while intentionally practicing Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). As I patiently sat through the film, I created mental notes for a psychoeducational lesson on unity (a condition of harmony). Yet, I rejected the feminist piece of propaganda, which the American Psychological Association defines as “a method of social control t

Deric Hollings
5 days ago18 min read


Empowerment vs. Disempowerment: Just Doing It for the Love of the Game
[DISCLAIMER] When assigned to the Marine Security Guard (MSG) detachment (det) in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil (1999-2000), my Brasilian Portuguese tutor gave me advice which she’d plausibly have given to those about whom she cared. “Xuxu,” she said, “Stay away from piranhas!” For context, “xuxu” (pronounced “shoo-shoo”) is a Brasilian Portuguese slang term that, in my case, was used endearingly to mean “cutie.” As for “piranhas,” the tutor wasn’t referencing fish. Rather, it’s

Deric Hollings
7 days ago11 min read


Focus On What You Can Control
[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. Regarding Stoicism, I invite you to consider that REBT uses unconditional acceptance (UA) to relieve self-induced suffering. This is accomplished through use of unconditional self-acceptance (USA)

Deric Hollings
May 116 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


Outcome: Victim Mentality and Playing the Victim
[ DISCLAIMER ] * Outcome (2026) spoilers contained herein. Photo credit , property of Apple Studios, Apple TV, and Strong Baby Productions, fair use When discussing mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “ mental health ”), I often discuss what it is to be a victim (an individual who is the target of another person’s violent , discriminatory , harassing, or assaultive behaviors). There’s a reason that I address this matter. I posit that there’s a di

Deric Hollings
Apr 1917 min read


Shackled and Miserable
[ 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 . Have you ever been subject to wearing shackles (something such as a manacle or fetter that confines the legs or arms)? It can be an unpleasant experience. About this, the authors quote an

Deric Hollings
Apr 136 min read


The House Negro and the Field Negro: Suffer Peacefully
[ DISCLAIMER ] Message to the Grass Roots On his 2018 album I Self Lord and Master (I.S.L.A.M.) , lyricist Recognize Ali released the song “ Liftin Me Higher ” that featured a sample of the 1963 speech “ Message to the Grass Roots ” by the late black nationalist leader el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz (better known as Malcolm X ) who said: All the revolutions that’s going on in Asia and Africa today are based on what? Black nationalism . A revolutionary is a black nationali

Deric Hollings
Mar 2418 min read


My, My, My: If I Could Turn Back Time
[ DISCLAIMER ] The electronic dance music (EDM) song “ My My My ”, by house music producer and DJ Armand van Helden , from his album Nympho (2005), contains a sample of the song “ Comin’ Apart ” by Gary Wright from the album The Right Place (1981). I like the line “ooh, ooh-wee!” For context, “ooh-wee” (also spelled oohwee, ooowee, or hoo-wee) is an informal interjection used to express intense excitement, admiration, astonishment, or joy . As an example, “Ooh-wee, I’

Deric Hollings
Feb 155 min read


Power to Alter Your Circumstances
[ DISCLAIMER ] As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy , this blog entry is part of an ongoing...

Deric Hollings
Aug 25, 20256 min read


Get Ya Mind Right
[ DISCLAIMER ] * Cool Hand Luke spoilers contained herein Not having seen the film since early adulthood, I recently re-watched Cool...

Deric Hollings
Aug 10, 202512 min read


I Rose All Odds Against Me
[ DISCLAIMER ] My transition from living in Amarillo, Texas to Aurora, Colorado in the late ‘80s was difficult. I was made fun of for...

Deric Hollings
Apr 17, 20258 min read


To the Future
[ DISCLAIMER ] Photo from Eternia’s MySpace page circa 2009 (edited), fair use By the time I was active on MySpace in 2009, I’d already...

Deric Hollings
Mar 28, 202512 min read


Empowerment
[ DISCLAIMER ] When I was in junior high school, German electronic dance music (EDM) group Snap! released their debut album World...

Deric Hollings
Dec 30, 20246 min read


Subjectivity of Consequences
[DISCLAIMER] Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) uses the ABC model to demonstrate how irrational beliefs lead to unpleasant...

Deric Hollings
Jan 25, 20244 min read
bottom of page