Know Why You Do What You Do

[DISCLAIMER]

One of the earliest and most influential leaders who left a positive impact on me when in the United States Marine Corps was my class advisor for military police (MP) graduating class 05-97. Although he was exceedingly strict, he taught my class quite a bit about policing and life.

For instance, the staff sergeant encouraged MPs to know why we did what we did when performing law enforcement activities. This was done as a method of critical thinking to prevent learning by rote—mechanical or unthinking routine or repetition.

For context, many or the self-defense maneuvers, closed-hand techniques, mixed martial arts practices, and other systems we learned were monotonous. Thus, it was easy to become complacent and not take seriously our mandated MP training. My advisor had a remedy for this.

As an example, when demonstrating the difference between blood chokes (primarily targeting the carotid arteries) and air chokes (targeting compression of the trachea), each of the MPs in my class was personally choked unconscious by the advisor. As such, the distinction was learned.

Knowing why we did what we did not only enabled MPs to comprehend how to properly perform defensive techniques, we were taught to better articulate our justification for why some maneuvers were favored over others during dangerous apprehensions.

Now, long since having served as an MP, I consider the value of critical thinking and the provision of justification when administering care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health. In specific, I think about the significance of a philosophical approach to wellness.

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.

Authors of The Daily Stoic draw inspiration from ancient Roman Stoic philosopher Musonius Rufus, who is said to have taught ancient philosophers Epictetus and Dio Chrysostom, and who also stated (page 30):

So in the majority of other things, we address circumstances not in accordance with the right assumptions, but mostly by following wretched habit. Since all that I’ve said is the case, the person in training must seek to rise above, so as to stop seeking out pleasure and steering away from pain; to stop clinging to living and abhorring death; and in the case of property and money, to stop valuing receiving over giving.

The moral and ethical lessons of this recommendation are many. Choosing an occupational topic of discussion, similar to my personal anecdote regarding military service, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 30):

A worker is asked: “Why did you do it this way?” The answer, “Because that’s the way we’ve always done things.” The answer frustrates every good boss and sets the mouth of every entrepreneur watering. The worker has stopped thinking and is mindlessly operating out of habit. The business is ripe for disruption by a competitor, and the worker will probably get fired by any thinking boss.

Mindlessly assuming that performance standards are as they are, because “that’s the way we’ve always done things” could result in a costly error. As an example, consider the questionable case of Derek Chauvin.

The former law enforcer was accused and apparently found guilty of having performed an unauthorized restraint technique regarding the late George Floyd. I was trained on, and have performed on many occasions, a similar method of restraint. It’s quite effective.

However, knowing why one does what one does is essential when placing a knee between the scapula regions versus the cervix. Placement of the former doesn’t typically cause an air choke scenario while the latter maneuver can. It can be quite deadly.

When a subdued individual’s life is on the line, a business-as-usual approach to apprehensions may not bode well. Ruthless questioning, rather than ruthless action, is the key to comprehending this matter. With this understanding, authors of The Daily Stoic conclude (page 30):

We should apply the same ruthlessness to our own habits. In fact, we are studying philosophy precisely to break ourselves of rote behavior. Find what you do out of rote memory or routine. Ask yourself: Is this really the best way to do it? Know why you do what you do—do it for the right reasons.

When providing psychoeducational lessons on REBT, I endeavor to meet the historical standard of teaching that I learned from my MP class advisor. Demonstrating techniques while also fostering a method of critical thinking is the objective to which I strive.

Perhaps you don’t know why you do what you do when disturbing yourself with irrational beliefs. If you’re interested in un-disturbing yourself though Stoic REBT techniques, then I look forward to hearing from you. (No worries, I won’t choke you unconscious during periods of instruction.)

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, May 20). A nice and easy life. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-nice-and-easy-life

Hollings, D. (2024, May 22). A philosophical approach to mental health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-philosophical-approach-to-mental-health

Hollings, D. (2024, November 15). Assumptions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/assumptions

Hollings, D. (2024, November 4). Critical thinking. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/critical-thinking

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. (2025, March 4). Justification. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/justification

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

Hollings, D. (2024, March 4). Mental, emotional, and behavioral health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/mental-emotional-and-behavioral-health

Hollings, D. (2023, October 2). Morals and ethics. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/morals-and-ethics

Hollings, D. (2025, March 5). Pain. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/pain

Hollings, D. (2024, January 1). Psychoeducation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychoeducation

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, July 10). Recommendatory should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/recommendatory-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2025, January 15). Satisfaction. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/satisfaction

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, 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, February 9). Value. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/value

Hollings, D. (2024, September 29). Well, well, well. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/well-well-well

Hollings, D. (2022, September 3). You gon’ die: The existential window. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/you-gon-die-the-existential-window

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Derek Chauvin. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Chauvin

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Dio Chrysostom. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dio_Chrysostom

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Epictetus. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epictetus

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

Wikipedia. (n.d.). George Floyd. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Floyd

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