Since adolescence, and for the most part, I’ve participated in regular physical exercise. Even when not knowing how to properly apply concepts of weight training, I had a gym membership when in high school. As well, I read articles about how to improve my performance overall fitness level.
Not long after graduation, I entered active duty service in the Marine Corps. As such, physical exercise was a way of life regarding my military service. In the Corps, I increased my level of self-discipline and continued reading updated articles concerning performance enhancement.
After I left my final duty station, I continued using regular physical exercise when entering the field of nuclear security. At that time, I achieved peak performance by incorporating what I read about nutrition and training with knowledge gleaned from a body builder with whom I worked.
Then, I began experiencing health issues – some of which were related to routine physical training. A physician advised that I lay off of regular exercise until he could determine the source of a particular ailment. It wasn’t the first time since my youth that I’d stopped regular exercise.
After experiencing significant administrative and legal issues prior to departing my final duty station, I completely gave up on seeking self-improvement. Therefore, when the physician ordered me to stop working out I was familiar with how a lack of exercise could impact me.
Rather than taking a flexible approach to wellness, I’ve intermittently used a false dichotomous approach. “I’m either all in or I’m all out with fitness,” I unhelpfully determined. With this unproductive either-or foundation, I also actively participated in self-sabotage.
“I’m either gonna exercise hard or play hard,” I unfavorably concluded. While pending the doctor’s assessment, I stopped physical training, gave up on proper nutrition, and gorged with fast food and junk food. The consequence of my unhelpful behavior wasn’t pleasant.
My weight shot up to 283 pounds – my heaviest ever size. Still, I didn’t have to harm myself in such a manner. Although I was advised to temporarily stop regular exercise, I wasn’t prescribed to eat poorly. Thus, the outcome of my behavior was entirely avoidable.
Eventually, I once again incorporated regular exercise based on advancements in physical training and proper nutrition. With that, the unhealthy amount of weight I’d amassed came off relatively quickly. As such, I felt better emotionally and physically, because I was fit in both regards.
Now that I practice Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I’m able to retrospectively assess how I self-disturbed into a miserable and unhealthy condition. Even more, I value resilience which has afforded me an opportunity to help other people understand that setbacks don’t have to be terminal.
Therefore, I’m able to use psychoeducation when teaching people about a holistic approach to behavioral health care. Much as I’ve educated myself about methods of regular physical exercise since my youth, and applied knowledge to training, I teach people the value of understanding, believing in, and routinely practicing REBT.
Regarding this matter, page 192 of The REBT Therapist’s Pocket Companion encourages REBT practitioners to help clients understand that maintenance of psychological well-being involves regular psychological exercise in the same way as maintaining physical well-being involves regular physical exercise.
As an example, I negotiate homework exercises with clients so that they may perform regular psychological exercise outside of sessions – from where the overwhelming majority of lasting and effective change stems. The more effort one puts into the exercise, the more significant one’s performance enhancement is likely to be.
As well, I invite clients to consider the utility of self-discipline, though to approach regular psychological exercise with flexibility. This means abandoning use of unhelpful either-or binary thinking.
For those clients who actually apply themselves by regularly putting in work – and I mean on a daily basis – they report significant performance improvements regarding physical, emotional, and behavioral health. Ultimately, regular exercise is the key to success in this regard.
Perhaps you’re lacking in routine exercise, or even self-sabotaging through use of unfavorable personal narratives, and would like to stop harming yourself while beginning the process of improved well-being. If so, I look forward to hearing from you. (Be prepared to use regular exercise!)
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—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 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 helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
Dryden, W. and Neenan, M. (2003). The REBT Therapist’s Pocket Companion. Albert Ellis Institute. ISBN 0-917476-26-3. Library of Congress Control Number: 20031044378
Hollings, D. (2024, May 30). Behavioral health care. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/behavioral-health-care
Hollings, D. (2022, October 5). Description vs. prescription. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/description-vs-prescription
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use
Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better
Hollings, D. (2022, May 31). Holistic approach to mental health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/holistic-approach-to-mental-health
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/
Hollings, D. (2024, April 18). Homework. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/homework
Hollings, D. (2024, April 17). I go to work. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/i-go-to-work
Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching
Hollings, D. (2024, January 1). Psychoeducation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychoeducation
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, May 8). Resilience. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/resilience
Hollings, D. (2024, April 30). Self-discipline. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-discipline
Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance
Hollings, D. (2022, December 1). Self-sabotage. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-sabotage
Hollings, D. (2022, November 14). Touching a false dichotomy. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/touching-a-false-dichotomy
Hollings, D. (2024, January 16). Understanding, belief, and practice. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/understanding-belief-and-practice
Vecstock. (n.d.). Young adults enjoying outdoor summer sports smiling and having fun generated by artificial intelligence [Image]. Freepik. Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com/free-ai-image/young-adults-enjoying-outdoor-summer-sports-smiling-having-fun-generated-by-artificial-intelligence_122421781.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=8&uuid=35da4a7b-4ed0-4078-bed4-d633976bf0f0
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