Never Present

[DISCLAIMER]

On his 2022 album Three, featuring Maticulous, lyricist Justo the MC (“Justo”) released a song entitled “Never Present” that contains a verse from The Audible Doctor. Justo begins the track by stating:

I’m thinkin’ mirror, mirror; it’s just me in my zone

Havin’ flashes of my past; see my future like a clone

Split the difference, not capable when I’m wrapped up

When I should be movin’ forward, I back up

I’m that stuck, opportunities passed up

Thinkin’ ‘bout my past got me ready to mask up

My interpretation of those lines relates to Justo’s focus on what’s behind and in front of him, though the lyricist neglects to consider the precise moment in which he finds himself. Use of terms such as “wrapped up” and “stuck” further imply a mindset of one who’s captured.

Shifting my analysis to consider the lyrics through the lens of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I think about the potentially self-disturbing form of demandingness used by Justo, which relates to use of terms such as “should,” “must,” or “ought”. I’ll explain.

REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate that when an undesirable Action occurs and one Believes something unhelpful about the event, it’s one’s unfavorable assumption and not the occurrence itself that causes an unpleasant Consequence (cognitive, emotive, sensational, or behavioral).

As an example, Justo has flashes of his past while contemplating his future (Action) and he likely Believes, “I should be movin’ forward, and it’s awful that I’m captured by an impermanent past and uncertain future!” Then, the lyricist experiences anxiousness (Consequence).

Addressing how people upset themselves like this with unhelpful attitudes, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of unproductive assumptions in order to explore Effective new beliefs. Later in his verse, Justo manages to un-disturb himself when stating:

Reality check, check the time

Six in the mornin’, man, I’m back on the grind

Got two mouths to feed and a wife to support

All the hustle’s for a reason, I don’t do it for sport

Lord, I’m thankful; got a beautiful fam

A roof over my head, and the mind of a man

Say focused; could it be so simple?

Never present, stay stuck in my mental

But don’t backtrack, future this, future that

Nah, think about now, son, focus where I’m at

By challenging his unfavorable beliefs about the past and future, while neglecting to focus on the present, Justo disturbed himself. All the same, the lyricist favorably disputed his unhelpful self-narratives and achieved effective new beliefs which better served his interests and goals.

This is precisely my approach to care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health. If Justo is capable of achieving a healthier outlook within a single verse, I imagine that you can do the same through use of REBT techniques. If you’d like to know more, I look forward to hearing from you.

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

Photo credit, fair use

References:

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