What You Gonna Do?

[DISCLAIMER]

Within my blog, I sometimes forget to write about the milder forms of electronic dance music (EDM) which have influenced my perspective on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). For whatever reason, it often slips my mind that chill rooms were popular when I used to DJ.

These were spaces set aside for relaxation and rest, in which mild forms of pop, dance, and other variants of musical genres were played with an EDM twist. As an example, United Kingdom duo Artful Dodger’s debut studio album It’s All About the Stragglers (2000) was once fashionable.

In particular, the anthology contained the track “What You Gonna Do?” which featured the vocals of Craig David, and I recall once hearing the track in a chill room. Some people who are unfamiliar with EDM may question how the up-tempo song qualifies as a relaxing track.

Considering that some raves, festivals, clubs, and other venues I attended generally featured music played at 140+ beats per minute, “What You Gonna Do?” was a chill alternative to other songs. In any case, the lyrics of the Artful Dodger track aren’t why I’m writing about the track.

Rather, the title of the song serves as a reminder to me about taking necessary time to chill out rather than seeking to use the ABC model as frequently as possible. Sometimes it’s okay to simply be disappointed, annoyed, or mildly frustrated with impermanent and uncertain events.

Using this healthy distress versus unhealthy self-disturbance perspective is a matter of unconditional acceptance. After all, what else can I do when the chaotic events in life over which I have little or no control or influence continue to unfold?

Therefore, I ask myself “what you gonna do?” and chill out, because there’s very little I can do about most disordered events in life. Given this helpful perspective, I now turn to you. What you gonna do when you don’t have control or influence in life?

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work 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 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 (edited), fair use

References:

45platnumbaby. (2008, July 10). What You Gonna Do Craig David Artful Dodger [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/EhIHoch7eZk?si=31_k9ypNnV08jr1x

Hollings, D. (2022, May 17). Circle of concern. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/circle-of-concern

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Hollings, D. (2025, March 12). Distress vs. disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/distress-vs-disturbance

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Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

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Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

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

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

Hollings, D. (2025, January 9). Traditional ABC model. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/traditional-abc-model

Hollings, D. (2024, October 20). Unconditional acceptance redux. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-acceptance-redux

Quan cao tien. (2010, August 19). Chill out. Urban Dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Chill%20out

Tunes Tomb. (2020, October 26). The Artful Dodger – It’s All About The Stragglers [Full album] [Image; video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/QIKb0PdNhF4?si=RYHN4Ln9b8CTFHR1

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Artful Dodger (duo). Retrieved form https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artful_Dodger_(duo)

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Craig David. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_David