During my last month of being assigned to the Marine Security Guard detachment in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, rapper Lil’ Flip released his debut solo studio album The Leprechaun. I laughed when I first saw the cover art, because it served as a parody of a popular breakfast cereal.
The joint featured a track entitled “I Can Do Dat,” as each major line of the song ended in, “I can do dat.” As an example:
If I spill drank on my clothes, I can do dat
It don’t matter, ‘cause I’ll buy me some more, I can do dat
I’mma spend about fifty in the mall, I can do dat
I’mma buy me a Bentley in the fall, I can do dat
I’mma stop weak niggas from rappin’, I can do dat
I’mma rock all my teeth in platinum, I can do dat
Lil’ Flips can-do attitude represented on the track is an example of high frustration tolerance (HFT) addressed in theory for Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). This is the opposite effect of low frustration tolerance (LFT).
LFT is one of four major irrational beliefs with which people disturb themselves. If this self-defeating narrative had a catchphrase it would be something along the lines of “I can’t stand it” or “I can’t do that!” Thus, LFT represents a perceived inability to tolerate undesirable events.
Whether through my work as a psychotherapist or regarding my role as a life coach, I assist people with facing perceived threats which are accompanied by LFT assumptions. In REBT literature, unproductive beliefs are sometimes called attitudes. For instance, one source states:
If you can help your client to develop a flexible and non-extreme attitude towards the threat, and encourage her to act and think in ways that are consistent with her rational belief, then you will not only help her to be healthily concerned rather than anxious about her threat-based adversity, you will help her to get unstuck and move on with her life including resuming her coaching work towards her personal objectives.
Whereas LFT represents an unproductive belief about one’s perceived inability to deal with a matter, Lil’ Flip’s HFT attitude functions as a flexible and non-extreme self-narrative in alignment with rational living. To illustrate this point, consider the following examples:
· If I don’t pass this exam, I’ll simply retake it. I can do dat.
· If I missed an opportunity to cross the train tracks and now I’m stuck waiting on a slow-moving train, it’s not the end of the world. I’ll simply be patient. I can do dat.
· If I don’t get promoted when expecting to, I’ll either wait for the next opportunity for a promotion of look for employment elsewhere. I can do dat.
· If my preferred presidential candidate isn’t elected, I’ll simply work on my HFT for the next four years. I can do dat.
· If my best friend suddenly dies, I’ll be sad for as long as I need to process this healthy negative emotion. I can do dat.
· If my physician informs me that I have only four months left to live, I’ll unconditionally accept life as it is – and this includes acceptance regarding the inescapability of death. I can do dat.
Each of the aforementioned scenarios is practical. So, too, is an HFT attitude. Noteworthy, this method of rational living isn’t necessarily representative of being optimistic. Rather, it’s a matter of being realistic. Thus, perception of a threat doesn’t inevitably represent reality.
After all, which embodies a factual narrative when experiencing adversity, unfavorably convincing yourself that you can’t do that or flexibly admitting that although you don’t like or love undesirable circumstances you can actually do dat if you need to?
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 old school hip hop REBT psychotherapist, 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:
Dryden, W. (2011). Dealing with clients' emotional problems in life coaching a rational-emotive and cognitive behaviour therapy (RECBT) approach. Routledge. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/dealing-with-clients-emotional-problems-in-life-coaching-a-rational-emotive-and-cognitive-behaviour-therapy-recbt-approach-d175331108.html
Exotic Pop Distribution, LLC. (n.d.). LiL Flip leprechaun cereal [Image]. Retrieved from https://exoticpopdistribution.com/products/lil-flip-leprechaun-cereal
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
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Hollings, D. (2024, March 18). Unhealthy vs. healthy negative emotions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unhealthy-vs-healthy-negative-emotions
LilFlipVEVO. (2009, October 25). Lil’ Flip - I Can Do Dat ft. Juvenile, Skip [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/JkZUU_NbYok?si=unsAyiOmI7bLNNvf
Shawnzarelli. (2006, January 11). Drank. Urban Dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=drank
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Lil’ Flip. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lil%27_Flip
Wikipedia. (n.d.). The Leprechaun (Lil’ Flip album). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Leprechaun_(Lil%27_Flip_album)
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