Ice Skating: Hold Your Balance

[DISCLAIMER]

Earlier, when looking through video content from my time in the Marine Corps (1996-2007), for a Veterans Day blogpost, I came across footage of my first time ice skating. In 1998, when stationed in Okinawa, Japan, I found that there was no exception to gravity’s force when on ice.

The memory of that subjectively humorous event reminded me of a Passport Rav song from his 2021 album Sand in My Carry On, entitled “Ice Skating”. For those who are unfamiliar with the track, lyrics include the following:

Mindless livin’

But I’m glidin’ with it

One foot after the other

Though that the ice is thinnin’

What you lookin’ down for?

You ‘bout to lose step

I know yo’ feet hurtin’

But, baby, catch yo’ breath

And if you fall with grace

Even if you lose yo’ pace

Every day you wake up

You’ll be better at skatin’

‘Cause it’s like ice skatin’

‘Cause it’s like…

‘Cause it’s like ice skatin’

Hold your balance

And just be patient; breathe

Man, just keep skatin’

Don’t look down, man, just keep skating

When thinking of those lyrics, a relatively brief psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) comes to my mind. This is especially relevant for those who choose to acknowledge the impermanent and uncertain nature of an imperfect life (i.e., reality).

For context, 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.

I acknowledge that while I have no control or influence over the past (ULA), I can control how I respond to memories of yesteryear (USA). Also, being that I have no contact with the military members with whom I served in 1998, I accept how little influence I have over others (UOA).

This relates to Passport Rav’s perspective, as the rapper expresses a perspective regarding resilience. Although I could choose to needlessly suffer when thinking about all that is lost to the past, “I’m glidin’ with” life, using a “one foot after the other” approach to rational living.

From the outlook of ULA, the metaphorical “ice [of life] is thinnin’,” though I helpfully ask myself, in the interest of USA, “What you lookin’ down for?” Further, considering UOA, I reason that “if you fall with grace,” fallible human beings aren’t all that different than me.

We’re all trying to “hold” our “balance” on the ever-thinning ice. So, “Every day you wake up, you’ll be better at skatin’,” and even if you don’t improve, “just keep skatin’.” Now, I invite you to hold your balance when ice skating. Also, UA is the padding for when gravity’s force kicks it.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, 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:

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