Apply Pressure
- Deric Hollings
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
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, “Apply yourself to thinking through difficulties—hard times can be softened, tight squeezes widened, and heavy loads made lighter for those who can apply the right pressure” (page 241).
At first, it may seem counterintuitive to apply pressure to oneself when many approaches to care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”) are about reliving pressure. For context, the American Psychological Association thusly defines pressure:
[E]xcessive or stressful demands, imagined or real, made on an individual to think, feel, or act in particular ways. The experience of pressure is often the source of cognitive and affective discomfort or disorder, as well as of maladaptive coping strategies, the correction of which may be a mediate or end goal in psychotherapy.
Given this description, I concur that “excessive” pressure may not be conducive to attaining one’s interests and goals. Still, Seneca advocated applying the “right pressure” necessary to accomplish tasks. When thinking further about this matter, I’m reminded of a song.
On his album Apply Pressure (2020), Canadian rapper Merkules released the song “Apply Pressure” that featured rapper Kevin Gates. On the track, both rappers address how they apply pressure to achieve success. This is precisely my approach to mental health care, as well.
Although too much pressure may be detrimental to one’s aims to which effort is applied, the “right pressure,” per Seneca, is arguably a necessary consideration for accomplishing a higher level of functioning and quality of life. What do you think about this approach to rational living?
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Pressure. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/pressure
Apple Music. (n.d.). Apply Pressure. Apple Inc. Retrieved fromhttps://music.apple.com/ca/album/apply-pressure/1845189729
Daily Stoic. (n.d.). Translating the Stoics: An interview with “The Daily Stoic” co-author Stephen Hanselman. Retrieved from https://dailystoic.com/stephen-hanselman-interview/
Genius. (n.d.). Apply Pressure [Image]. Retrieved from https://genius.com/Merkules-apply-pressure-lyrics
Holiday, R. and Hanselman, S. (2016). The daily stoic: 366 meditations on wisdom, perseverance, and the art of living. Penguin Random House LLC. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-daily-stoic-366-meditations-on-wisdom-perseverance-and-the-art-of-living-d61378067.html
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Wikipedia. (n.d.). Kevin Gates. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Gates
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Merkules. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkules
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Ryan Holiday. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Holiday
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Seneca the Younger. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca_the_Younger
Young Merkules. (2020, November 12). Merkules & Kevin Gates – “Apply Pressure” (Official video) [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/4XHidT6n940?si=n9jdWHrvpk81qejJ
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