I’m reminded of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) each time I observe someone under the age of 18 wearing a Wu-Tang Clan shirt and who can’t name five original members or tell me which album is most enjoyed by the person. “I just like the shirt,” one individual told me.
It’s then that I remember that global evaluations (also known as negative ratings) serve as irrational beliefs. As an example, assuming that everyone who wears a Wu-Tang shirt and who doesn’t appreciate the legendary hip hop collective as much as I do is somehow a bad person.
Another self-disturbing belief also comes to mind, as it represents demandingness. For instance, maintaining that everyone who wears Wu-Tang apparel should, must, or ought to know about the group. Who am I to judge and command people in such a way?
Perhaps due to the fact that I’ve routinely practiced REBT for so long, my automatic irrational beliefs are quickly disputed. This isn’t a similar experience shared by those with whom I’ve maintained contact and who don’t practice REBT.
For illustration, consider old school hip hop heads who actually listen to and appreciate rap. When engaging in discussion about which emcee is the least lyrically talented member of the Wu-Tang Clan, some people allow their opinions to quickly transition into irrational beliefs.
Before I expound upon this matter, it may be worth defining what an opinion is. An opinion is a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter. It also represents a belief stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge.
Growing up, I used to hear an old adage that stated opinions are like assholes – everybody’s got one and they all stink. Expanding on the adage, smelly opinions are often followed by shitty situations.
Now, back to the Wu-Tang Clan. I once engaged in an online discussion thusly, “In my opinion, U-God is the most unskilled member of Wu-Tang.” The individual with who I chatted disagreed and suggested, “Nah, it’s definitely Masta Killa!”
Although the online contact and I presented evidence to support our claims, we were both able to laugh off the matter and express appreciation for the other seven original group members. No problem detected.
However, imagine that the individual insisted upon his opinion as having represented a fact—a piece of information presented as having objective reality. Suppose I disagreed and his opinion then transitioned into a self-disturbing belief.
Visualize the individual believing, “Deric is utterly worthless, far more than Masta Killa, and he shouldn’t deny what is so obviously true!” Respectively, the global evaluation and demandingness within this unhelpful belief could lead to an unpleasant consequence (e.g., anger).
Generally, the transition from opinion to belief occurs when an individual uses rigid, absolutistic, or conditional qualifiers of a belief that was once stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge, though which has since become unwaveringly commanding in nature.
With an opinion, a person can merely shrug off disagreement from others. As an example, it’s my opinion that among Wu-Tang Clan members GZA is the most talented lyricist. If another hip hop head disagrees and professes RZA to be the best of the collective, I’m unbothered by the proposal.
However, if I were to unhelpfully believe that no one must ever place Method Man over the skills of Raekwon or Ghostface Killah, then the inflexible qualifier related to my opinion would likely cause self-disturbance. Are these matters over which I’m willing to become self-upset?
Why must I anger myself with unfavorable beliefs about whether or not Inspectah Deck or Ol’ Dirty Bastard even warranted membership in Wu-Tang? As absurd as this all may sound, people have actually gotten into physical altercations about these and other frivolous matters.
Unless you want to upset yourself with silly beliefs in such a manner, I invite you to remember this psychoeducational lesson in regard to opinions. Then you, too, can simply shrug off the occurrence of disagreement or ignorance when you face it.
As for the younger crowd that wears Wu-Tang Clan apparel and doesn’t know the name of any original members, I’ve listed each of them herein. You’re welcome. Then again, I unconditionally accept that you may be of the opinion that my opinion doesn’t matter. Wu-Tang!
If you’re looking for a provider who works 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 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 helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
Chetwin-Kelly, B. (2021, February 15). Enter the history of the Wu-Tang Clan. Twisted Thread. Retrieved from https://twistedthread.co.nz/blogs/band-history/enter-the-history-of-the-wu-tang-clan
Hollings, D. (2024, July 9). Absolutistic should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/absolutistic-should-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2024, November 15). Assumptions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/assumptions
Hollings, D. (2024, July 9). Conditional should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/conditional-should-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2024, March 19). Consequences. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/consequences
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
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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. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching
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Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings
Hollings, D. (2023, April 24). On truth. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-truth
Hollings, D. (2024, January 1). Psychoeducation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychoeducation
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, January 4). Rigid vs. rigorous. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rigid-vs-rigorous
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, October 20). Unconditional acceptance redux. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-acceptance-redux
Hollings, D. (2024, February 23). Wacky beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/wacky-beliefs
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Ghostface Killah. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostface_Killah
Wikipedia. (n.d.). GZA. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GZA
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Inspectah Deck. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspectah_Deck
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Masta Killa. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masta_Killa
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Method Man. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Method_Man
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ol%27_Dirty_Bastard
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Raekwon. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raekwon
Wikipedia. (n.d.). RZA. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RZA
Wikipedia. (n.d.). U-God. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-God
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Wu-Tang Clan. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu-Tang_Clan
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