I Said, "Good Day!"

[DISCLAIMER]

During the time that it aired, I was a fan of That ‘70s Show (1998-2006) which was set between 1976 to 1979. One of the recurring bits (comedic takes on reality) was when character Fez (of unknown origin) would reinforce a personal boundary by assertively stating, “Good day.”

When people continued talking, thus violating the boundary, Fez would then insistently declare, “I said, ‘Good day!” One imagines that Fez’s character borrowed the phrase from eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka, regarding the film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971).

On occasion, other characters in the series would appropriate the phrase. For instance, character Donna Pinciotti mimicked Fez during another recurring bit that involved a spinning camera angle that stopped on each person who sat at a table, as she jokingly stated, “I said, ‘Good day!”

Photo credit, property of Fox and Peacock, fair use

Not always is it easy to set healthy boundaries. Moreover, reinforcing personal boundaries can be even trickier for certain individuals. Therefore, I work with clients regarding assertiveness which is sometimes misperceived as aggressiveness. (There is a difference.)

Generally, a number of people with whom I work express discomfort with setting boundaries concerning a two-letter word that serves as a compete sentence: no. In a way, the word “no” can be a helpful tool. Pertaining to this matter, I stated in a blogpost entitled No:

While using this tool, it’s important to understand that sometimes the reactions we experience from other people may be disappointing, unpleasant, discomforting, annoying, or even downright frustrating. Saying “no” doesn’t miraculously induce a joyous or pleasurable experience.

Rather than seeking a positive experience in life, sometimes it serves one’s own interests and goals to simply set and reinforce health boundaries. Regarding this topic, I’m reminded of something that I recently 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.

In The Daily Stoic, the authors state that “the more you say no to the things that don’t matter, the more you can say yes to the things that do” (page 17). Suppose that rather than using this helpful tool, you instead convince yourself that setting Fez-type boundaries is too uncomfortable.

You unfavorably conclude, “I couldn’t possibly be so bold, because shutting down people with a ‘no’ is like killing their aspirations. Worse, it’s like literally killing them.” Concerning this perspective, I highlighted the ABC model while stating in an entry called Kill Them with the No:

I invite you to consider figuratively killing people with the “no” if or when doing so is in your best interests […] saying no to people doesn’t essentially cause unpleasant outcomes for you.

Rather, a belief-consequence [B-C] connection generates discomforting reactions when you unhelpfully maintain that telling people “no” is awful, that you can’t stand what others may think of you, that you’re a bad person for declining offers, or that you shouldn’t be perceived as disagreeable.

The B-C connection is what causes an unpleasant experience when telling people “no.” Rather than using irrational beliefs about helpful boundary-setting, I invite you to dispute your unfavorable assumptions, set healthy boundaries, and then reinforce those boundaries. Good day.

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, November 15). Assumptions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/assumptions

Hollings, D. (2024, August 7). Awfulizing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/awfulizing

Hollings, D. (2023, August 30). Boundary setting. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/boundary-setting

Hollings, D. (2024, October 27). Correlation does not imply causation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/correlation-does-not-imply-causation

Hollings, D. (2022, October 31). Demandingness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/demandingness

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

Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use

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

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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, January 18). Kill them with the no. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/kill-them-with-the-no

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

Hollings, D. (2022, December 2). Low frustration tolerance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/low-frustration-tolerance

Hollings, D. (2024, February 18). No. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/___no

Hollings, D. (2024, April 22). On disputing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-disputing

Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings

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

Hollings, D. (2022, December 25). The B-C connection. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-b-c-connection

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

Movieclips. (2016, December 29). Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory - You lose! Good day sir! scene (10/10) | Movieclips [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/fpK36FZmTFY?si=eRVYqXFiv9GmBl0i

Peacock. (2022, September 14). I said good day gif by Peacock [Image]. Giphy. Retrieved from https://giphy.com/gifs/peacocktv-good-day-peacock-tv-that-70s-show-jH6KlJgmTT2VXbWWnk

That 70’s Show Fan. (2024, March 27). Classic Fez moment “I said good day” compilation l That 70’s Show [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/HEAY_qjqqzI?si=t9ncsWYPjJYuR3wT

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

Wikipedia. (n.d.). That ‘70s Show. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/That_%2770s_Show

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willy_Wonka_%26_the_Chocolate_Factory