O Let's Do It

[DISCLAIMER]

On the first in a series of mixtapes under the Salute Me or Shoot Me (2009) title, rapper Waka Flocka Flame released the song “O Let’s Do It” that featured rappers Riverdale Shawty and Lil Capp. Stated twice, the chorus is as follows:

Yeah! Oh, let’s do it, hey

Oh, let’s do it, hey; oh, let’s do it

Yeah! Drug dealing music, hey

I influence, hey; I influence

What does it mean to influence something or someone? In common parlance, “influence” is defined as the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways, or the act or power of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command.

According to the American Psychological Association, social influence of this sort is defined as “any change in an individual’s thoughts, feelings, or behaviors caused by other people, who may be actually present or whose presence is imagined, expected, or only implied.”

In the case of Waka Flocka Flame, the artist boasted about his ability to influence people who engaged in the presumably illegal distribution of illicit substances. I was once friends with people who influenced others in similar ways. They were called “street pharmacists.”

Although an indirectly caused effect of this kind relates to change, it isn’t the same as control—to exercise restraining or directing influence over, or to have power over. Here, “power” colloquially infers the ability to act or produce an effect, often by way of authority or force.

When providing psychoeducational lessons about Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), a psychotherapeutic modality which is informed by Stoic philosophy, I invite people to contemplate the distinction between control and influence.

Whereas control is direct power or authority over something or someone, influence is the power to change or affect something or someone indirectly. Thus, control involves a direct exertion of command, and influence works through indirect persuasion and shaping of opinions or behavior.

I find it helpful to conceptualize control, influence, and even concern and no concern, using imaginary circles. Regarding this concept, I stated in a blogpost entitled Minding Your Circle:

The sphere of control encompasses only oneself, the sphere of influence encapsulates elements which may be subject to one’s sway, the sphere of concern engrosses most matters one can imagine, and the area of no concern relates to all content which isn’t yet imagined.

The circle of concern regards elements such as the past, an inevitable death, natural disasters, and so forth. The area of no concern relates to concepts such as other dimensions, sentient life in other galaxies, an afterlife, and so on, as the current post focuses solely on control and influence.

Although it may be the case that Waka Flocka Flame could influence drug dealers, the rapper had no legitimate control over people who distributed illicit substances. The same was evident regarding my attempt to influence my drug-dealing friends to consider alternative choices.

The friends I maintained during my adolescent years weren’t controlled by me. In fact, they weren’t even open to being influenced by what I considered helpful attempts to shape their behavior. Therefore, I took control of the only element I could at that point: myself.

I walked away from the streets, joined the Marine Corps, served in other areas of government, and eventually attended school so that I could become a counselor and a social worker. Unfortunately, my friends from yesteryear ended up in the grave or subject to incarceration.

When considering the information contained herein, I invite you to consider what you have control or influence over. If you’ve paid attention, then you realize you are the only person you control. Are you ready to seize this form of direct influence and improve your circumstances?

If so, I can only try to indirectly influence you so that you can make better your level of functioning and quality of life. Still, only you are personally responsible and accountable for your outcome in this regard. Are you prepared for change of this kind? If so, oh, let’s do it!

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:

APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Social influence. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/social-influence

Apple Music. (n.d.). Salute Me or Shoot Me. Apple Inc. Retrieved from https://music.apple.com/us/album/salute-me-or-shoot-me-1/1614560328

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Ken, J. (2016, September 5). Waka Flocka Flame - O Let’s Do It (Official video) [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/wKkbSDdR2RY?si=tLPQjNr301nDSl8Z

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