You Wouldn’t Fight That, Would You?
- Deric Hollings
- 16 hours ago
- 5 min read
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, as the authors state (page 350):
‘Lead on God and Destiny,
To that Goal fixed for me long ago.
I will follow and not stumble; even if my will
is weak I will soldier on.’”
“Whoever embraces necessity count as wise,
skilled in divine matters.”
“If it pleases the gods, so be it. They may well kill me, but they can’t hurt me.”
—Epictetus, Enchiridion, 53
These three quotes compiled by Epictetus show us—in wisdom across history—the themes of tolerance, flexibility, and, ultimately, acceptance. Cleanthes and Euripides evoke destiny and fate as concepts that help ease acceptance. When one has a belief in a greater or higher power (be it God or gods), then there is no such thing as an event going contrary to plan.
I’m all for tolerance, flexibility, and acceptance. Clearly, many of my blogposts address these elements. Yet, I disagree with appeals to “a greater or higher power” which serve as an unfalsifiable claim. Nevertheless, authors of The Daily Stoic add (page 350):
Even if you don’t believe in a deity, you can take some comfort in the various laws of the universe or even the circle of life. What happens to us as individuals can seem random or upsetting or cruel or inexplicable, when in fact these events make perfect sense when our perspective is zoomed out, even just slightly.
I’m not for delusion (an often highly personal idea or belief system, not endorsed by one’s culture or subculture, that is maintained with conviction in spite of irrationality or evidence to the contrary). Thus, I don’t appeal to unfalsifiable deities or “laws of the universe.”
Specifically, I don’t need to evoke “the circle of life” in order to consider my perspective on tolerance, flexibility, and acceptance. I suspect that even a second grader can think with logic and reason (collectively “rational”) without appeals to such unfalsifiable elements.
All the same, authors of The Daily Stoic state, “Let’s practice this perspective today. Pretend that each event—whether desired or unexpected—was willed to happen, willed specifically for you. You wouldn’t fight that, would you?” (page 350).
I’ll fight (to put forth a determined effort) against irrational appeals in place of rational views. Perhaps that metaphorically makes me something of a hoplite (citizen-soldiers of Ancient Greek city-states who were primarily armed with spears and shields). I’ll fight delusions. And 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
Photo credit, Designed by Magnific, fair use
References:
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