I am as I am
When listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by Sara Collado, I heard her spin the track “I am as I am (SHNNG Rework)” (2026) by Jonasclean. Lyrics include, “I don’t believe it if he says, ‘Neither pearl nor jewel.’ It is not even that, o brother. I am as I am.”
For context, the tautological phrase “I am as I am” regards acceptance of oneself without use of inflexible conditions, reflecting self-acceptance, unyielding truth, and the fundamental state of existing as one is. It echoes the biblical phrase “I Am that I Am” from Exodus 3:14.
However, regarding the biblical meaning, one of the names of Jehovah (i.e., Yahweh, God, etc.) is I Am (uppercase “Am”). Therefore, rather than blasphemously declaring oneself as the deity of the Old Testament, one may intentionally use the lowercase “am” when regarding oneself.
Concerning this topic, it’s worth addressing a relatively brief psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Even when one chooses to flexibly improve oneself, self-acceptance without inflexible conditions may serve as the underlying goal.
Noteworthy, REBT uses unconditional acceptance (UA) to relieve self-induced suffering. This is accomplished through use of unconditional self-acceptance (USA), unconditional other-acceptance (UOA), and unconditional life-acceptance (ULA).
With my approach to REBT, I incorporate author Stephen Covey’s concepts regarding the circles of control, influence, and concern, as well as an area of no concern. UA maps onto the circle of control (USA), circle of influence (UOA), and circle of concern and area of no concern (ULA).
The circle of control encompasses only oneself, the circle of influence encapsulates elements which may be subject to one’s sway, the circle of concern engrosses most matters one can imagine, and the area of no concern relates to all content which isn’t yet imagined.
Regarding your circle of control and USA, you may attempt to improve upon your physiological and psychological fitness, sleep hygiene, the way that you think, and so forth. You have some level of control over such matters (e.g., opting for one nutritional source versus another type).
If you flexibly accept yourself without inflexible conditions, then you’ll believe something along the lines of, “I preferably should improve upon myself” rather than “I absolutely must improve upon myself.” There’s a meaningful distinction between these two beliefs.
Specifically, the former belief flexibly and unconditionally accepts oneself by allowing for an unrealized goal. However, the latter disallows any unrealized outcome, instead inflexibly demanding that failure to improve upon oneself is unacceptable.
On “I am as I am (SHNNG Rework)”, the lyrics state that “I don’t believe it if he says, ‘Neither pearl nor jewel.’ It is not even that, o brother. I am as I am.” If you have a realized or unrealized goal, there’s no need to evaluate yourself (e.g., I’m acceptable, because I’m like a pearl).
After all, you are as you are—a fallible human being. You aren’t I Am. Thus, you aren’t your outcomes (e.g., goal attainment). I am as I am (i.e., flawed), you are as you are (i.e., faulty), and we may try achieve success with our goals, though we aren’t damned to Hell if or when we fail.
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 EDM-influenced REBT psychotherapist—promoting content related to EDM, 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:
Bandcamp. (n.d.). I am as I am (SHNNG Rework) [Image]. Retrieved from https://jonasclean.bandcamp.com/track/i-am-as-i-am-shnng-rework
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