Would There Be Enough Evidence to Convict You?

[DISCLAIMER]

When attending United States Marine Corps Recruit Training (1996), a drill instructor stated to my platoon, “If someday a person accused you of being a Marine, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” His appeal was to how we would one day carry ourselves as Marines.

For instance, would we exemplify military physical fitness standards, maintain military bearing, adhere to uniform standards, and so forth? If there wasn’t enough evidence to convict on the accusation of being a Marine, were we dignified enough to have warranted the title of Marine?

After subsequently completing Marine Combat Training (1997), I attended Military Police Training (1997). That’s when the photo above was captured. Part of the evidence to support an allegation of being a Marine is illustrated by my high and tight haircut.

Of course, after substantial administrative and legal problems when in the Corps, military officials decided that there was no longer enough evidence to convict me of being a Marine. My uniforms were seized, I was kicked out, and the Corps washed its proverbial hands of me.

For years, I self-disturbed with irrational beliefs about the matter. What was my identity, if not bearing the title of Marine? I was distraught! Favorably, I discovered a psychotherapeutic modality that allowed me to un-disturb and carry on with a different title.

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

The authors quote Roman Stoic philosopher Gaius Musonius Rufus who stated, “For philosophy doesn’t consist in outward display, but in taking heed to what is needed and being mindful of it” (page 141). Thankfully, I learned that assuming the title of personal philosopher was attainable.

It wasn’t as though I needed to attend college or university to undergo the rigmarole of becoming an actual philosopher, much as was required of me to become a Marine. Rather, I could learn about philosophy on my own and develop into an individualized version of a Stoic thinker.

Fortunately, I discovered REBT which is partially based on Stoic philosophy. As such, I continue to evolve my philosophy in the interest of rational living. Regarding this approach to life, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 141):

[T]he monk dresses in his robes. A priest puts on his collar. A banker wears an expensive suit and carries a briefcase. A Stoic has no uniform and resembles no stereotype. They are not identifiable by look or by sight or by sound. The only way to recognize them? By their character.

As a Marine, I wore a high and tight haircut for a period of time. It was a method of signaling to others that I was guilty of being one of the few, the proud, the Marines. When my title was ultimately stripped from me, I was lost. Then, I found myself!

There’s no bar to entry for practicing personal Stoicism in my case. On most days, I wear a plain black t-shirt. People who look at me may not conclude that I’m a philosopher in my own mind. Still, there is enough evidence to convict me of a claim regarding one who practices Stoicism.

How about you? If someone accused you of practicing Stoic virtues (wisdom, courage, temperance or moderation, and justice), would there be enough evidence to convict 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 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

References:

Daily Stoic. (n.d.). Translating the Stoics: An interview with “The Daily Stoic” co-author Stephen Hanselman. Retrieved from https://dailystoic.com/stephen-hanselman-interview/

Holiday, R. and Hanselman, S. (2016). The daily stoic: 366 meditations on wisdom, perseverance, and the art of living. Penguin Random House LLC. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-daily-stoic-366-meditations-on-wisdom-perseverance-and-the-art-of-living-d61378067.html

Hollings, D. (2024, October 5). A so-called “need to be right.” Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-so-called-need-to-be-right

Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2024, May 17). Feeling better vs. getting better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/feeling-better-vs-getting-better-1

Hollings, D. (2025, March 5). Five major characteristics of four major irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/five-major-characteristics-of-four-major-irrational-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better

Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2024, January 2). Interests and goals. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/interests-and-goals

Hollings, D. (2025, October 13). Knowledge, wisdom, understanding. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/knowledge-wisdom-understanding

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

Hollings, D. (2023, March 21). Matching bracelets. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/matching-bracelets

Hollings, D. (2024, April 5). Mixed signals. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/mixed-signals

Hollings, D. (2025, August 2). My philosophy. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/my-philosophy

Hollings, D. (2024, June 16). On virtue. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-virtue

Hollings, D. (2023, September 15). Psychotherapeutic modalities. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapeutic-modalities

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. (2024, May 15). Rational living. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-living

Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance

Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Stoicism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/stoicism

Hollings, D. (2025, January 2). The distinction between law and justice. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-distinction-between-law-and-justice

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

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Gaius Musonius Rufus. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Musonius_Rufus

Wikipedia. (n.d.). High and tight. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_and_tight#:~:text=The%20high%20and%20tight%20is,in%20the%20U.S.%20armed%20forces.

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Ryan Holiday. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Holiday