There Are No Strings on Me

[DISCLAIMER]

*Pinocchio (1940) spoilers contained herein.

A Marionette without Strings

There was a time when the Walt Disney Company (commonly referred to as simply “Disney”) produced works of art which provided rich psychoeducational lessons for people across the globe. Seemingly, gone are the days of yesteryear, as the company apparently has lost its way.

Fortunately, Disney content from decades ago remains available. To this day, I draw upon such lessons when providing care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”). As an example, consider the 1940 film Pinocchio – about which one source states:

In Pinocchio, Walt Disney’s adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s 1883 children’s fantasy novel, the story depicts the desire of a freshly carved wooden puppet to become a real boy: a living, breathing kid that can talk and walk without strings.

Indeed, this fervent yearning for a wholesome life becomes real when the angelic Blue Fairy hears the romantic wish of kindly puppet-maker Geppetto and decides to vitalize Pinocchio, his inanimate creation.

However, as all human beings are incomplete without a conscience, minuscule but wise Jiminy Cricket becomes Pinocchio’s faithful companion and the voice of reason—an unshakable supporter entrusted with the crucial task of guiding the gullible boy through life’s constant distractions.

Now Pinocchio has everything he needs to succeed. Will the smiling boy made of enchanted pine wood manage to be brave, truthful, and unselfish?

As the marionette is freed from strings which manipulate or constrain his movement, I equate this form of empowerment to how Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) uses the ABC model and unconditional acceptance (UA) to free people from threads of self-disturbance.

Before discussing this psychotherapeutic model any further, it may be of some use to highlight the scene in which Pinocchio rejoices over his newfound freedom. Singing “I’ve Got No Strings” which was performed by Dickie Jones and Patricia Page, Pinocchio gleefully states:

I’ve got no strings to hold me down

To make me fret, or make me frown

I had strings, but now I’m free

There are no strings on me

Hi-ho the merry-o

That’s the only way to be

I want the world to know

Nothing ever worries me

I’ve got no strings, so I have fun

I’m not tied up to anyone

They’ve got strings, but you can see

There are no strings on me

One may interpret these lyrics in a number of ways. For instance, because I work for myself, there are no strings on me concerning what I choose to express within my blog. Regarding mental health, I consider Pinocchio’s freedom from the perspective of REBT.

REBT

First, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate that when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, not the occurrence itself, that causes an unpleasant Consequence.

In particular, there are four predominate irrational beliefs which people often use to upset themselves: global evaluations, low frustration tolerance, awfulizing, and demandingness. When contemplating these unproductive beliefs, think of the acronym GLAD.

Also, bear in mind that from a psychological standpoint people disturb themselves using a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection. Of course, this isn’t to suggest that in the context of the naturalistic or physical world there is no Action-Consequence (A-C) connection.

As an example, imagine that when chiseling Pinocchio from a block of wood kindly puppet-maker Geppetto cuts his finger (Action) and the wound then bleeds (Consequence). In the natural world, from an A-C perspective, a cut to one’s extremities can cause bleeding.

Now, from a B-C outlook, envision Geppetto chiseling Pinocchio (Action) while Believing, “Life is worthless without having a child [G], and I can’t stand being a fatherless man [L]! In fact, it’s terrible that this block of wood isn’t a child [A], because it absolutely should be alive [D]!”

With these unaccommodating self-narratives, Geppetto becomes fearful of fatherlessness while vigorously chiseling wood and ends up accidentally cutting his finger (Consequence). Thus, it was Geppetto’s GLAD prescriptions of life which caused his unpleasant outcome.

Addressing how people upset themselves with unhelpful attitudes, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of unproductive philosophies of life in order to explore Effective new beliefs. Whereas rigid beliefs cause self-disturbance, flexible beliefs result in an un-disturbed condition.

The process of challenging GLAD narratives can take longer than I care to demonstrate herein. Thus, in the interest of time, imagine that after a period of rigorous Disputation Geppetto eventually uses the Effective new beliefs:

Although life may not be as meaningful to me without a child, it isn’t worthless without one. Truly, I’ve lived many years alone. So, I can stand the fact that I don’t have a kid. Besides, how can it be terrible that this block of wood isn’t a child when it’s outright delusional to consider that a child would magically manifest, simply because I demand not to die alone?

On that note, merely preferring for, rather than expecting that, this block of wood to become animated on its own would better serve my interest and goal to remain a sane person. Yet, commanding that life absolutely should unfold as I require is plain crazy!

Second, REBT uses 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).

Whereas the ABC model is a scientific approach to wellness, UA serves as a philosophical method for un-disturbing yourself. I view the former as an abortive approach to disturbance and the latter as a preventative method. Of course, not all REBT practitioners use the same style as I.

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.

Let us now shift from use of Geppetto as an example. Instead, suppose that when encountering life’s constant distractions after his strings are severed, Pinocchio Effectively believes:

I have no control and limited influence in life (USA). Also, because there are no strings on me, others can’t make me fret or make me frown (UOA). Moreover, as I’m now a real boy, I acknowledge that all living beings on Earth will eventually die (ULA).

Thus, there’s too little time left in life than to tether myself with proverbial threads to others who desire to hold me down. There are no stings on me!

Conclusion

The tale of a marionette without strings expressed herein, as viewed through the lens of REBT, is similar to the character Darth Vader from the Star Wars franchise – regarding idiomatic buttons which people perceivably push. Regarding this matter, I said in a post entitled Button-Pushing:

I suppose that if you walked around with literal buttons on your chest like Darth Vader, aside from those fastening together your shirt or blouse, it would make sense to suggest the likelihood of an [A-C] connection. In this case, someone violates your rule and then you become upset.

Take a moment to look at your chest or use your hand to feel for buttons. Do you have a control panel like Vader? No?

This is because nobody is upsetting you by pushing your nonexistent buttons. Therefore, take personal ownership over your life and you can stop disturbing yourself, unless you’re into that sort of thing.

There are no stings on you, nor are there any buttons on you which people may press in order to cause you to react. As well, you don’t have triggers which cause you to respond in this manner or that. About this topic, I stated in a blogpost entitled Options:

[R]ational or irrational beliefs cause healthy distress or unhealthy disturbance. Although I realize that consideration of this REBT perspective defies conventional conceptions of A-C connections which supposedly trigger feelings, B-C connections explain these outcomes. […] Consequently, you have options, not triggers. So, what option will you use during your next negative Action?

You have no strings, no buttons, and no triggers. After all, you’re merely a fallible human being – not a marionette, a cyborg, or a firearm! Therefore, I encourage you to take personal responsibility and accountability (collectively “ownership”) of your own B-C reaction. Own it!

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 a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try 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 trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

Photo credit, property of Walt Disney Productions, fair use

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