C Is for Contentment and That's Good Enough for Me

[DISCLAIMER]

Photo credit, property of Reeves Teletape Studios  and Kaufman Astoria Studios, fair use

In childhood, I adored the content of educational children’s television series Sesame Street. Aside from enjoying the short films with humor and cultural references brought by the late Jim Henson’s Muppets, I learned quite a bit from entertaining material facilitated by the series.

One character with whom I had something in common was Cookie Monster, a blue Muppet with a huge appetite and affection for cookies. The obese child that I was, I shared the Muppet’s interest in small sweet cakes, typically round and flat, having a crisp or chewy texture.

Even in adulthood, I’ve shared similar sentiment with other adults who once enjoyed Sesame Street. Thus, my interest isn’t merely a matter of something once enjoyed and now forgotten. In one particular episode, Cookie Monster sang a song with the following lyrics (in part):

Oh, what starts with a letter C?

Cookie starts with C

Let’s think of other things that start with C

Ah, ah, who cares about other things?

C is for cookie, that’s good enough for me

C is for cookie, that’s good enough for me

C is for cookie, that’s good enough for me

Oh, cookie, cookie, cookie starts with C

When practicing Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I use psychoeducational lessons which are (I hope) sometimes entertaining while also communicating important messages about matters such as the ABC model. In particular, this tool addresses the process of self-disturbance.

The ABC model illustrates that when an undesirable Action occurs and one Believes an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s one’s unfavorable assumption and not the occurrence itself that causes an unpleasant Consequence. Perhaps an example of this tool may be useful.

Imagine that Cookie Monster runs out of cookies (Action) and unfavorably Believes, “Me have no more cookies and this is terrible, because me should never run out of delicious cookies!” With this unhelpful attitude, Cookie Monster causes himself to become angry (Consequence).

Helpfully, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of unproductive assumptions in order to explore Effective new beliefs. Noteworthy, Actions and Consequences aren’t Disputed, as only unproductive Beliefs are challenged using this REBT tool.

For instance, Cookie Monster could logically and reasonably (collectively “rationally”) conclude, “Me never had an infinite supply of cookies before, so why must me now expect cookies never to run out? Instead of upsetting meself, me could enjoy cookies while they last!”

Another helpful tool of REBT is the technique of unconditional acceptance (UA), used as a method of relieving self-induced suffering. This is accomplished through use of unconditional self-acceptance, unconditional other-acceptance, and unconditional life-acceptance.

In a way, Cookie Monster is already familiar with UA. For example, when promoting use of REBT tools, I encourage people to unconditionally accept a “good enough” standard of living. This helpful practice is the antidote to suffering caused by one’s unhelpful self-narratives.

While contemplating other words which begin with the letter C, Cookie Monster helpfully concluded in his song, “C is for cookie, that’s good enough for me.” This is an example of UA in practice. If a Muppet could arrive at that conclusion, a child can also understand this REBT tool.

Moreover, if a child can comprehend this lesson, then I suspect an adult will have little difficulty understanding it. Giving up the illusion of control that causes self-disturbance is another matter altogether. Thus, I invite you to actually practice REBT tools and not merely comprehend them.

Ultimately, my goal with routine use of REBT tools is to achieve a state of ongoing contentment—the quality or state of being contented (showing satisfaction with one’s possessions, status, or situation). If this sounds “good enough” for you, then maybe REBT is worth practicing.

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 a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging 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

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