Dropped in 2019, the album Control the Streets, Volume 2, released under the record label Quality Control Music, featured the track “Longtime” which was performed by rappers 24Heavy and Young Thug. When working out this morning, I drew inspiration from the chorus which states:
Took a long time, but I’m here (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Now I’m shinin’, chandelier (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
I was a dirty diamond in the rough (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
But now I’m polished, see me clear
And I ain’t never give up, whoa-oh, nah
Stay down ‘til you come up (Stay down ‘til you come up)
Woah-oh, nah (Woah), whoa-oh
I appreciate that the chorus expresses the notion of “a long time” as a necessary component for success with one’s interests and goals. Quite often, I encounter people who disturb themselves with irrational beliefs about how achievement should, must, or ought to occur rapidly.
However, as stated by the artists on “Longtime,” one’s starting point – and not the fallible human being oneself so inevitably is – may be akin to a “dirty diamond in the rough.” With enough hard work and dedication, one’s interests and goals may become “polished.”
This is a key component to success that I’ve observed many individuals failing to understand since I began life coaching in the ‘90s and practicing as a psychotherapist in 2011. The absurd notion that success must occur quickly and that it ought to be easy is apparently shared by many people.
Yet, when I dispute such illogical and unreasonable beliefs, people typically have no legitimate answers to support their flawed perspectives. This is why I appreciate that the chorus of “Longtime” states, “I ain’t never give up,” and, “Stay down ‘til you come up.”
Expanding upon the latter concept, one source describes staying down as “biding your time and sacrificing/stacking for a period of time in order to achieve a greater come up in the future.” Likewise, a separate source describes a come up as “a positive outcome to a situation.”
Rigorously refusing to give up while biding one’s time until a positive outcome is achieved may take a long time, as advocated in “Longtime.” Thus, there’s no guarantee for a quick or easy path to success. To elaborate on this matter, I ask that you forgive me a personal anecdote.
Although I realize that many people in the so-called fitness “community” are opposed to it, I value use of a bro split—a physical training routine whereupon each major muscle group is trained on a separate day. As an example, today is back day for me.
For many years, I’ve bided my time and sacrificed precious resources (i.e., time, energy, money, etc.) in order to achieve a greater level of functioning and an overall degree of fitness as an ultimate outcome. In this regard, I’ve stayed down until I came up.
While my objective isn’t to attain the biggest or strongest back possible, I train to offset the injuries which were incurred through my military service. One secondary benefit to this primary goal is that I’ve received compliments on my lats (latissimus dorsi) spread (development).
Even though it’s taken a longer time to achieve success with my lat development than I initially imagined, I rationally consider the alternative option. What else would I do with my time if not performing physical training that has a knockoff mental health improvement effect?
I could unproductively disturb myself with irrational beliefs about how proper back development takes too long and requires too much effort. Yet, that unhelpful attitude would be counterintuitive in regard to my physiological and psychological goals.
Therefore, I’ve stayed down ‘til I came up – irrespective of the length of time it’s taken to achieve success. Now, I post this blog entry with the hope that the inspiration I drew from “Longtime” will also motivate you to metaphorically polish diamonds.
Hopefully, you’ll stay down ‘til you come up! Otherwise, self-disturbingly bringing yourself down with unfavorable beliefs may not apply the pressure it takes to form a diamond in the first place. The choice is yours.
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work 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 hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try 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 trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
Apple Music. (n.d.). 24Heavy. Apple, Inc. Retrieved from https://music.apple.com/us/artist/24heavy/1275705495
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
Hollings, D. (2024, May 11). Fallible human being. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fallible-human-being
Hollings, D. (2024, April 2). Four major irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/four-major-irrational-beliefs
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Hollings, D. (2024, January 4). Rigid vs. rigorous. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rigid-vs-rigorous
Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance
Hollings, D. (2022, October 7). Should, must, and ought. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/should-must-and-ought
Hollings, D. (2024, December 24). This may be why you aren’t getting better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/this-may-be-why-you-aren-t-getting-better
QualityControlVEVO. (2019, August 2). Quality Control, 24Heavy – “Longtime” ft. Young Thug (Official music video) ft. Young Thug [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/DNOGk9_GvKU?si=VEx2kUOysVMVJsiP
True2it. (2017, August 20). Staying down. Urban Dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=staying%20down
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Control the Streets, Volume 2. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_the_Streets,_Volume_2
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Quality Control Music. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality_Control_Music
Xiexiexiaopunyo69. (2017, May 3). Come up. Urban Dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Come%20Up
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