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 around—if you’d stop depriving yourself of them” (page 195). What did he mean by this?

Personally, the object of one’s desire (i.e., interest) remains elusive until the end toward which effort is directed (i.e., goal) becomes well-defined. Also, it helps to know why one maintains specific interests and goals. Regarding this matter, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 195):

Ask most people what they’re working toward and you’ll get an answer like: “I’m trying to become a [insert profession].” Or they’ll tell you they’re trying to get appointed to some impressive committee or position, become a millionaire, get discovered, become famous, whatever.

Now you ask a couple more questions, such as “Why are you doing that?” or “What are you hoping it will be like when you get it?” and you find at the very core of it, people want freedom, they want happiness, and they want the respect of their peers.

I’ve asked these questions of children in middle and high school. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” was a common question I was also asked in my youth. My response in high school related to pursuing a career as an attorney, a psychologist, or a preacher.

I wanted to attain any of those titles, because I was relatively skilled at tasks associated with each of those occupations. However, when asking kids about their employment pursuits these days, the typical response relates to being a “YouTuber,” “streamer,” or other content creator.

When asking why these children have an interest in these titles, I generally receive a shrug and verbal response of, “I don’t know.” Without being able to explain or justify why one desires a particular career option, then it’s unlikely that these kids will formulate goals for their future.

I expect this sort of response from minors. Still, I often receive similar replies from adults who seek services related to REBT. In fact, it isn’t uncommon for people to express complicated reasons for their desires—in place of simple answers. About this, the authors state (page 195):

A Stoic looks at all this and shakes his head at the immense effort and expense we put into chasing things that are simple and straightforward to acquire. It’s as if we prefer to spend years building a complicated Rube Goldberg machine instead of just reaching out and picking up what we want. It’s like looking all over for your sunglasses and then realizing they were on your head the whole time.

Prior to reading The Daily Stoic, I was unfamiliar with Rube Goldberg or his machine. For context, one source states:

A Rube Goldberg machine, named after American cartoonist Rube Goldberg, is a chain reaction–type machine or contraption intentionally designed to perform a simple task in a comically overcomplicated way. Usually, these machines consist of a series of simple unrelated devices; the action of each triggers the initiation of the next, eventually resulting in achieving a stated goal.

Photo credit, artist: Rube Goldberg, fair use

I’ve seen some silly Rube Goldberg machines when working for and with various departments of the United States government. Of course, some clients with whom I’ve worked have rivaled these overly complicated methods of achieving goals. Admittedly, I’ve done the same in the past.

How goes your Rube Goldberg machine? Do you have interests without reasonable explanations or justifications regarding your goals? Are you even aware of why you want to achieve specific objectives? Regarding this matter, authors of The Daily Stoic conclude (page 195):

Freedom? That’s easy. It’s in your choices.

Happiness? That’s easy. It’s in your choices.

Respect of your peers? That too is in the choices you make.

And all of that is right in front of you. No need to take the long way to get there.

Linked to each instance of “choices” addressed by the authors is a separate blogpost I’ve written about choice (the act of choosing—to select freely and after consideration). That’s something you can control and influence. It’s a reasonable place to start regarding your interests and goals.

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

References:

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/

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

Hollings, D. (2025, October 3). Control and influence: A soft center and coated in a candy shell. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/control-and-influence-a-soft-center-and-coated-in-a-candy-shell

Hollings, D. (2024, April 23). Depriving freedom. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/depriving-freedom

Hollings, D. (2024, October 21). Desire. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/desire

Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2025, December 13). Explanation and justification. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/explanation-and-justification

Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use

Hollings, D. (2024, May 17). Feeling better vs. getting better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/feeling-better-vs-getting-better-1

Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better

Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2024, January 2). Interests and goals. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/interests-and-goals

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt

Hollings, D. (2024, December 5). Reasoning. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/reasoning

Hollings, D. (2025, September 26). Respect required (non-negotiable). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/respect-required-non-negotiable

Hollings, D. (2025, January 15). Satisfaction. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/satisfaction

Hollings, D. (2025, April 23). Sphere of choice. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/sphere-of-choice

Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Stoicism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/stoicism

Hollings, D. (2025, January 2). The choice is yours. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-choice-is-yours

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

Hollings, D. (2024, August 20). We all make our choices. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/we-all-make-our-choices

Wikipedia. (n.d.). File:Rube Goldberg’s “Self-Operating Napkin” (cropped).gif [Image]. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rube_Goldberg%27s_%22Self-Operating_Napkin%22_(cropped).gif

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Marcus Aurelius. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius

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Wikipedia. (n.d.). Rube Goldberg machine. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg_machine

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Ryan Holiday. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Holiday