The Future's Not What It Used to Be

[DISCLAIMER]

When listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by Allia Sounds and Dimitri Aless, I heard the duo open with the song “The Future” (2025) by Ankhoï and Luch. In repetitious order, the lyrics states:

We hold hands, as if nothing has changed

I go forward, you come back to me

We don’t have long to rearrange

The future’s not what it used to be

While viewing these lyrics through the proverbial lens of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I think of a mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”) psychoeducational lesson worth sharing. In order to do so, I invite you to consider a helpful tool. 

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 “The Future”, the tool of UA relates to one’s circle of concern. If “the future’s not what it used to be,” this is indicates that at some point in history an individual contemplated forthcoming events. Regardless of reference to the past or future, life is lived only in the present.

While it’s virtually unquestionable that one has lived in the past (e.g., five minutes ago), that period in time cannot be re-accessed. As well, one may experience the future at some point (e.g., five minutes from now), yet one cannot live in anything but the present.

Therefore, both the past and future fall into one’s circle of concern, and remain unable to be controlled or influenced in the present. Favorably, matters in the present may be able to be influenced. However, if they can’t be, then one can control one’s own reaction in this regard.

Thus, if “the future’s not what it used to be” within your mind, then being overly concerned with matters which you can’t control or influence may not be in your interests and goals. After all, your mind may dwell on the past and future, though your body is here in the present.

Why not focus on the here and now? This is UA, and I invite you to practice it daily. As well, if you’d like to know more about this helpful tool or other REBT techniques, then I encourage you to read more of my blog content or contact me—in the present, not at some future time.

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

Photo credit, fair use

References:

Allia Sounds and Dimitri Aless. (2026, March 29). Phuket | Melodic house | Anjunadeep [Korolova, Joris Voorn, Vintuge Culture, Max Styler, Arodes] [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/K7IXwAp3x7w?si=uBdLvhhHEAG-_Xkm

Ankhoï, Luch, and Ninja Tune. (2025, November 13). Ankhoï & Luch – ‘The Futute’ (Lyric video) [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/XsRrlyocp-M?si=LNiE2VmKepmfOrVO

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