I was on military leave, visiting friends and family members in Bomb City during the late ‘90s, when I first heard Apotheosis’ “O Fortuna (Apocalypse Chorus Mix).” Incorporating the work of Carl Orff’s movement “O Fortuna,” from the cantata Carmina Burana, I was mesmerized when hearing the track.
As sound battered the speakers, club lights whirled above my head, and haze from fog machines masked club-goers on the dance floor, I envisioned medieval people dancing around a bonfire. I was preparing to let go of my cares and dance the night away, until an unfortunate occurrence unfolded.
Prior to discussing the matter, it may benefit the reader to know the lyrics of the track. According to one source, the English translation of Orff’s “O Fortuna” is as follows:
O Fortune, like the moon you are changeable, ever waxing, ever waning, hateful life first oppresses and then soothes as fancy takes it; poverty and power it melts them like ice fate – monstrous and empty, you whirling wheel, you are malevolent, well-being is vain and always fades to nothing, shadowed and veiled you plague me too; now through the game I bring my bare back to your villainy fate is against me in health and virtue, driven on and weighted down, always enslaved. So at this hour, without delay, pluck the vibrating strings; since Fate strikes down the strong man, everyone weep with me!
Considering these lyrics, I think of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). In particular, I contemplate the process of self-disturbance. This experience unfolds automatically and is demonstrated through use of the ABC model.
To illustrate this occurrence, forgive me a personal anecdote to which I’ve already alluded. While home on leave, my friend (“Matilda”) and her cousin told me they wanted to go out and dance.
What they apparently had in mind was to visit an establishment that played country music. Although I enjoyed some tunes from this musical genre, I didn’t dance to it. After we left the country bar, Matilda took us to a club that played electronic dance music (EDM).
As I began to loosen up and become more comfortable in the unfamiliar surroundings, Matilda’s cousin drew nearer to me and yelled, “You actually like this faggot music?” From an REBT standpoint, her offensive statement constituted an Action. I was upset.
In the physical world, an Action can lead directly to a Consequence, forming in Action-Consequence (A-C) connection. As an example, if someone pours a glass of water on your arm (Action), your arm will become wet (Consequence).
However, from a psychological perspective, Actions do not lead to Consequences. Instead, when an Action presents itself and a person Believes something about the event, it’s the unhelpful assumption that causes an unpleasant Consequence (emotion, bodily sensation, or behavior) – forming a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection.
Therefore, when Matilda’s cousin yelled, “You actually like this faggot music?” (Action) and I unproductively Believed, “She shouldn’t imply that only gay people like this music, and I can’t stand having to be here with her,” I upset myself to the point whereby I was angry, felt warm all over, and Matilda, her cousin, and I left the club after only a few songs (Consequence).
Regarding my experience, there was no A-C connection, as though Fate was playing some cruel trick on me, à la “O Fortuna.” In actuality, I disturbed myself using a B-C connection.
Because of my inflexible assumption, I likely missed out on other unique EDM tracks which I could’ve danced to that night. Matilda’s cousin didn’t like EDM, so she wasn’t missing out. I was the only one suffering and it was a direct result of what I told myself about the situation.
Perhaps you’ve been in a similar situation and self-disturbed using unfavorable self-narratives. You have options when faced with offensive statements. After all, it isn’t as though Fate commands that you must suffer.
Given my personal anecdote, what would you rather do, dance as though you’re in medieval times and without a care in the world, or opt for an abrupt departure while angry and uncomfortable? The choice is yours, not Fate’s.
If you’re looking for a provider who works 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 original EDM-influenced REBT psychotherapist—promoting content related to EDM, I’m pleased 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 helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
Apotheosis – Topic. (2016, November 23). Ô Fortuna (feat. DJ Patrick Samoy) (Apocalypse Chorus Mix) [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/drZXXWQ_2Iw?si=zMZLcPHHWjTbePvg
Classic FM. (2023, September 18). What are the lyrics to ‘O Fortuna’ from Carmina Burana? Global. Retrieved from https://www.classicfm.com/composers/orff/o-fortuna-carmina-burana-lyrics/
Discogs. (n.d.). Apotheosis. Retrieved from https://www.discogs.com/artist/7678-Apotheosis
Gráfica Italiana. (2023, October 25). A group of bohemian gypsies [Image]. Playground. Retrieved from https://playground.com/post/clo5tu7ic0262s601kvfta1h0
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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. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance
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Hollings, D. (2022, December 23). The A-C connection. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-a-c-connection
Hollings, D. (2022, December 25). The B-C connection. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-b-c-connection
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Carmina Burana (Orff). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmina_Burana_(Orff)
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Carl Orff. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Orff
Wikipedia. (n.d.). O Fortuna (Orff). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Fortuna_(Orff)