Solid Gold Guns
In high school, I had a friend who expressed a desire to one day own a gold-plated handgun. “I’m gonna call you Half Ton [stylized 1/2 Ton], because that shit’s gonna weigh about half a ton,” I laughed and responded. From then on, that’s how I’ve referred to him.
Recently, when listening to “Solid Gold Guns” by rappers Banish and Conway the Machine, as well as lyricists Recognize Ali and Supreme Cerebral, on German underground hip hop production team Snowgoons’ album Goon Bap (2016), I thought of 1/2 Ton.
Even though we’re no longer friends, I appreciate the time that I once shared with a guy for whom I was willing to die or kill. Now, a relatively brief psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) comes to mind, of which I’ll share with you.
Specifically, 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 my circle of control and USA, I acknowledge that I control my reaction to the loss of friendships. Concerning my circle of influence and UOA, both 1/2 Ton and his high school girlfriend (“Matilda”) weren’t able to be persuaded to remain in contact with me over the years.
Relating to my circle of concern and ULA, I admit that the impermanence and uncertainty of existence regards life and death, as well as friendships. Pertaining to my area of no concern, an imaginary realm in which friends stay in touch till the end, that’s not the plain in which I live.
Fortunately, I have “Solid Gold Guns” to remind me of a friend who once expressed a desire to own a gold-plated handgun. Now, I practice UA regarding the loss of friendships, as I encourage you to do the same – even if a Snowgoons reference isn’t appealing to you.
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 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:
Apple Music. (n.d.). Banish. Apple Inc. Retrieved from https://music.apple.com/us/artist/banish/320280890
Apple Music. (n.d.). Conway the Machine. Apple Inc. Retrieved from https://music.apple.com/us/artist/conway-the-machine/924551002
Apple Music. (n.d.). Recognize Ali. Apple Inc. Retrieved from https://music.apple.com/us/artist/recognize-ali/956142762
Apple Music. (n.d.). Supreme Cerebral. Apple Inc. Retrieved from https://music.apple.com/us/artist/supreme-cerebral/957943838
Bandcamp. (n.d.). Goon Bap. Retrieved from https://snowgoons.bandcamp.com/album/goon-bap
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Snowgoons. (2017, July 25). Snowgoons - Solid Gold Guns ft Conway the Machine, Banish & Recognize Ali (Video) [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/qLmPZ4RY85w?si=QJD-vcjAoFDs6sty
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Snowgoons. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowgoons
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Stephen Covey. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Covey
