Photo credit, property of China Film Group, Legendary Pictures, and Universal Pictures, fair use
I think I’ve seen the 2016 film The Great Wall three times. I’ll likely watch it another couple of times in the future. There’s something about monster films told from a foreign perspective that I thoroughly enjoy.
Describing the plot, one source states, “In ancient China, a group of European mercenaries encounters a secret army that maintains and defends the Great Wall of China against a horde of monstrous creatures.” Some people may think the sociopolitical implications are a bit on the nose.
In any case, I used to like the philosophical concept of building a great wall to protect people or things from perceived or actual harm. For a significant portion of my life, that’s how I functioned.
Behaving in such a manner is what earned me the nickname “Tin Man”—one without a heart. Long since having earned that nickname, I’ve questioned the utility of building up walls. Not only do walls keep others out, these structures keep people trapped inside.
When contemplating this matter, I’m reminded of the electronic dance music (EDM) track “Life Won’t Let Us Fall” by Dan Chase and featuring the vocals of Cynthia Hall. This is for two reasons.
First, Hall states in the song, “Building a wall, a great wall. We’re disturbed by another. If pain had a form, a true form, I’d mold it like a ball,” and, “Life won’t let us fall. Trust an open future. The truth is to be told.”
Viewing the lyrics through the lens of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), I consider the process of self-disturbance. Are you familiar with how you may be upsetting yourself through use of your beliefs? If not, I invite you to ponder the ABC model.
REBT theory maintains that when an unexpected Activating event occurs and a person uses an irrational Belief about the situation, it’s one’s unhelpful attitude and not the undesirable circumstance that causes unpleasant emotional, bodily sensation, and behavioral Consequences.
Rather than remaining self-disturbed, an individual is invited to try Disputation which may lead to an Effective new belief that is used in place of an unproductive self-narrative. With the ABC model, a person learns to stop needless suffering which is caused by unhelpful assumptions.
Slightly modifying the lyrics of Hall, building a wall – a great wall – people are self-disturbed by beliefs about another entity perceivably or actually harming them. If pain had a form – a true form – it could be molded like a ball. How does this molded ball or an erected wall serve you?
Using the ABC model, psychological pain is produced by a belief-consequence connection and can be molded in the shape of unpleasant consequences. If you don’t like the shape of suffering, you can dispute your unproductive beliefs and create a more helpful shape. You can also tear down walls.
Noteworthy, Hall logically and reasonably states in “Life Won’t Let Us Fall” that trusting an open future is where truth may be discovered. In this way, life apparently not letting a person fall doesn’t mean that one won’t be let down in life – though instead implies that an individual may descend in such a way by one’s beliefs about life.
This is where Stoicism embedded into REBT comes in handy. After all, it was Stoic philosopher Epictetus who stated, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” This addresses the first reason why the EDM track reminds me of building a wall.
Second, in the film The Great Wall, female protectors of the Great Wall of China are positioned on platforms which allow them to experience a controlled descent from atop the wall to an invading monstrous force below. They attack with spears and are then retrieved if they’re successful (alive).
With my approach to REBT, I invite people to consider the concepts of (1) purpose and meaning, (2) impermanence and uncertainty, and (3) the spheres of control, influence, and concern in reference to the film. Allow me to briefly explain how these elements relate to the female protectors of a great wall.
(1) The protectors of the wall valued purpose (duty) and meaning (value derived from fulfillment of one’s duty). When the individuals with whom I practice REBT employ a similar strategy, together we’ve found that they significantly benefit regarding their level of functioning and quality of life.
(2) All things in life will inevitably pass and virtually nothing is guaranteed, aside from death. The protectors of the wall seemed to understand this. Rather than upsetting yourself with unfavorable beliefs about this universal truth, you can practice the REBT tool of unconditional acceptance to merely tolerate and accept life as it is.
(3) Women tasked with defending a great wall from monsters were realistic about their plight. The only thing you can control in life is yourself, and to a limited degree. Also, you may have some influence over others, though this is to an exceedingly limited degree. All other matters fall within a sphere of concern, over which you have no control and barely any influence.
Not always can we control our descent in life, as outside forces and proverbial hordes of monstrous creatures impact us. Nevertheless, we may be able to control our descent, given that the only thing over which we truly have control in this life is ourselves, per the Stoic tradition.
Although you may’ve never seen The Great Wall or heard “Life Won’t Let Us Fall,” I suspect that the REBT concepts illustrated using these two sources of entertainment may benefit you. What do you think about the matters discussed herein? If you’d like to know more, I’m here to help.
If you’re looking for a provider who works 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 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 helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
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