It isn’t often that I come across a DJ with whom I’m unfamiliar and who demonstrates the intensity of the late ‘90s and early ‘00s era DJs that fueled many of my nights of dancing and sweating to pulsating beats. Describing that period in my life, joy and pleasure come to mind.
Some of my most fond memories from having lived in South America were of spending nights at clubs, music festivals, and raves while wringing out my clothes before showering and crawling into bed or beginning my security shift at a consulate or embassy without any sleep at all.
There was something pure about sweating out my emotions while dancing which may be virtually unfathomable for those individuals who never experienced similar events. However, for those people who stomped puddles of sweat into dancefloors across the world, I suspect they understand.
Oh yes, I was speaking about a DJ. Recently, I discovered a DJ who goes by the name of I Hate Models. When watching a Boiler Room YouTube video, I observed in amazement as he spun a set that was nearly indistinguishable from the DJ sets to which I used to dance years ago.
Wondering whether or not there was similar content available elsewhere, I then watched a full set as I Hate Models spun on The Warehouse Leeds YouTube video. I was pleasantly surprised to know that a younger generation DJ somehow captured the essence of my raving era.
Meant as a compliment, I Hate Models’ style reminds me of sets performed by Bad Boy Bill, DJ Irene, and others to whom I used to dance and sweat. Humorously, he’s apparently known for being sweaty, as one person on TikTok replied on a video, “Love him so much[,] sweatiest man alive.”
In any event, when thinking about electronic dance music (EDM), perspiration, and feelings (emotions and bodily sensations) I consider my approach to Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) and the concept of sweat equity. According to one source:
Sweat equity refers to work one does to build up value without a salary. This ownership interest, or increase in value, is created as a direct result of hard work by the owner. For example, homeowners who renovate or repair their house themselves are investing in sweat equity that increases the value of their home.
In the interest of mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), consider that your cognitive, affective, and action-based experience requires sweat equity in order to improve. Importantly, it isn’t as though you’ll receive payment for your efforts.
Nonetheless, you want to increase the value of your beliefs, feelings, and performance. Do you imagine that improvement of your mental health will come easily? Be honest with yourself.
Name five things you’ve ever done that led to lasting and effective change and which didn’t require sacrifice, effort, or some degree of challenge. If you wanted to save money, you likely denied yourself impulsive spending sprees so that you could achieve success with your goal.
Or maybe you wanted to lose weight and found that caloric restriction alone, as difficult as it can be to overcome hunger pangs, wasn’t enough to satisfy your interests and goals. You probably needed to consistently sweat through physical training sessions in order to be successful.
This, too, is how I approach personal and professional practice of REBT. For my own mental health desires and objectives, as well as when tending to these matters in regard to the clients with whom I work, sweat equity is required.
Not necessarily in the literal sense of the perspiration term, the value attained through hard work and dedication often requires sweat equity (challenging effort). I imagine that I Hate Models understands this, as he puts on a subjectively amazing show while sweating on the decks.
If you are able and willing to take a similar approach to your mental health interests and goals, then I have little doubt that you’ll achieve success. On the other hand, if you expect an easy, fast, and sweat equity-free approach to getting better, I suspect you’ll continue suffering.
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 EDM-influenced REBT psychotherapist—promoting content related to EDM, 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, property of Boiler Room, fair use
References:
Boiler Room [@boilerroom]. (n.d.). Boiler Room [Official YouTube channel]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/@boilerroom
Boiler Room. (2024, August 21). I Hate Models | Boiler Room x Teletech Festival 2024 [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/8CT6HxYA0cg?si=lhHu3pJ8iNsdFqyI
Celibb. (2024, July 1). Morning workout with @I Hate Models (Official) #techno #ilmurettojesolo #technotiktok [Video]. TikTok. Retrieved from https://www.tiktok.com/@celibb/video/7386697015788326176
Craig Earnest (CraigOH1981). (2016, August 7). Bad Boy Bill – Bangin’ the Box Vol. 4 (1999) [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/ZHVUh_xE0Mc?si=phMJqbgrTlHtjJOR
Da Hard Beats. (2018, May 15). DJ Irene - Hard House Diva [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/kvL95QN71J0?si=gn5sYAVsTU9QjejS
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use
Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better
Hollings, D. (2024, April 13). Goals. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/goals
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/
Hollings, D. (2024, January 2). Interests and goals. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/interests-and-goals
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, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings
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, March 14). REBT and emotions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rebt-and-emotions
Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Sensation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/sensation
I Hate Models. (2023, December 27). I Hate Models - The Warehouse Leeds [Full set 2023] [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/z-8JELUcjMM?si=EVL2wQcn8Gzkl6Xs
Insomniac. (n.d.). I Hate Models. Insomniac Holdings, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.insomniac.com/music/artists/i-hate-models/
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Sweat equity. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweat_equity
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