Avoid the Comparison Trap: Doug the “Depressed” Dog Discovers the Power of Mindset Rule 8

Yesterday afternoon, I was downtown on a mission. Not a super-heroic mission. Not a secret undercover operation. A snack mission.

Specifically: a Warrior-approved snack and a soda so cold it could legally be classified as a cryotherapy session I was debating almond flavors when I heard a familiar, melodramatic sigh.

There, slumped on a bench like someone waiting for a bus that stopped running in 1998… was Doug the “Depressed” Dog. His ears drooped. His tail barely remembered how wagging worked. He looked like a dog who wanted to lie down inside a blanket fort and never emerge.

But the second he spotted me? Doug lit up. He practically sprang off that bench — which, for Doug, is equivalent to winning gold in the Doggy Olympics.

Because in his paw… was my book. “Bruce! I’ve been reading your 53 Mindset Rules of a Mental Health Warrior!” he barked, grinning (yes — an actual grin).

“And Mindset Rule 8: Judge Your Success by Your Plan, and Not Others… has changed my LIFE.”

Now I needed a sip of soda to brace myself for this excitement. Doug is many things — wise, empathetic, deeply relatable — but excitable isn’t usually one of them. His default setting is “existential dread.” But here he was — tail activated. Eyes sparkling. Hope… alive.

Doug explained: “I always felt stuck. Everyone else seemed faster, happier… more motivated. I was comparing myself constantly. But then I realized — I’m not stuck. I’m just moving forward at Doug-speed.”

And that’s the moment it hit him: His path is not supposed to look like anybody else’s. His progress is valid, even if it feels slow. His race has only one lane — his own.

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The Warrior Story

Doug gets it — he knows how I struggled for 20 years with Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. Those battles left me feeling so powerless that I tried to end my life. But in that darkness, I discovered something life-changing: mental health is the key to overcoming any challenge.

Armed with that knowledge, I created the Mental Health Warrior Program — a bold new SELF-HELP approach that puts YOU in charge!

So you can take control of your emotions, triumph over the challenges life throws your way and build the life you really want.

And a powerful part of that journey is Mindset Rule 8. Doug has been using it — and today, he’s sharing three real-life examples of how it works.

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Example 1: The D.O.G. Method (Daily Observable Growth)

I, Doug, created this acronym — and yes, I’m very proud of it. It helps me use Mindset Rule 8 every day.

Some mornings, my big victory is simply getting out of bed and brushing my fur. That means I followed my plan. And that’s success.

But I didn’t stop there. I started recognizing every small move forward:

✅ If I take a shower without needing a nap afterward — Victory.

✅ If I take a walk — even just to the mailbox — Victory.

✅ If I actually open the mail — That’s basically the Super Bowl.

I started tracking these moments — tiny Warrior steps that prove I’m still moving, still trying, still in the fight. And every time I mark one down… my confidence grows just a little.

Because when depression is the enemy, forward doesn’t have to be fast. Small victories create Warrior momentum — and momentum creates hope.

Our Turn:

I use this strategy too. Years ago, I thought progress meant accomplishing something huge every day. But that only left me feeling like a failure when life hit hard.

Now? I measure success by showing up for myself, even in the smallest ways.

📌 If I write one paragraph — that’s writing.

📌 If I meal-prep one healthy snack — that’s fueling my warrior body.

📌 If I take two minutes to breathe — that’s taking charge of my emotions.

And those tiny actions? They stack up. They build strength. They build confidence. They build a life!

My motto — and Doug approved this — is: “Celebrate movement, not magnitude.”

Because when you celebrate the small stuff… you start seeing just how strong you really are.

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Example 2: Stop Watching Everyone Else’s Race

I realized I was spending way too much time watching everyone else zoom ahead in life — especially that border collie who trains for marathons. I mean… come on. He doesn’t even pant.

Every time I saw his “Triathlon Prep #DogsWhoRun” reels, I felt like I was falling behind. Like his speed somehow meant my progress didn’t count.

So I made a Warrior decision: I hit unfollow. Because I can’t compare my Tuesday to his perfectly staged motivational montage.

My new motto: Less scrolling — more paws on the ground!

Because when I stop watching their race, I can finally run (or leisurely walk) my own…and actually feel proud of my progress.

Our Turn:

Look, I’ll be honest — I used to watch everyone else’s journey like it was a competitive sport. And spoiler: That made me very unhappy with my progress — or what I thought was a lack of progress.

But then I applied Mindset Rule 8. Instead of looking at someone else’s grand finale… I looked at my plan for the day.

And guess what?

✔️ I followed my 3 Food Rules for meals — Success.

✔️ I wrote a few pages for my book — Success.

✔️ I got outside for 22 whole minutes without arguing with the sun — Success.

And viola! Happiness didn’t magically appear at the finish line… It showed up in the tiny Warrior steps I was already taking.

Turns out, when you quit obsessing over everyone else’s scoreboard, you finally notice you’re racking up points too!

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Example 3: The B.M.V. Plan — Body, Mind, Vibes

I used to make plans like “change my whole life before lunch.”

Spoiler: lunch arrived… nothing changed.

So I created a plan that actually fits Doug-energy: The B.M.V. Plan (Body • Mind • Vibes)

Every day, I do just three things:

💪 Body (one tiny physical win): Could be a walk… could be stretching… could be standing up without sighing dramatically.

🧠 Mind (one thing that wakes up my brain): Read a page. Learn a fact. Remember where I put the remote.

💛 Vibes (one thing that makes me feel good): Petting myself counts. So does smiling at squirrels.

Three small actions. One big victory!

Because when I make a plan that fits Doug, Doug actually does the plan. And every little win builds momentum — the arch-nemesis of depression.

Our Turn:

When Doug introduced the B.M.V. Plan, I figured… why not try it myself?

Because honestly? My old plans required the energy of a caffeinated superhero. And most days… I’m more like “mildly determined houseplant.”

So here’s how I use the B.M.V. Plan:

📌 Body:  I do one physical thing that supports my Warrior health —like a sandbag walk, cooking a Warrior meal, or actually stretching instead of just thinking about stretching.

📌 Mind: I sharpen my brain with something simple but meaningful — like reading one page, editing one paragraph, or organizing the tornado that is my workspace.

📌 Vibes: I do one thing that boosts my emotional tank — like sending a friend a quick “thinking of you” message, watching a funny video, or stepping outside to breathe real air that trees made for me. 🌳

Three small actions. Three guaranteed wins. And that’s how I use the B.M.V. Plan to create momentum, confidence and real Warrior happiness!

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Wrap Up

Before we parted ways, I handed Doug a fresh copy of my book, 53 Mindset Rules of a Mental Health Warrior.

“You discovered Mindset Rule 8,” I told him. “Now imagine what the other 52 can do.” Doug’s tail wagged again — a full-powered, happiness-overflowing wag.

He tucked the book under his paw like a treasure and said: “Thanks, Bruce. For believing in the Doug-way. And for helping me see the Warrior already inside me.”

And just like that — my afternoon snack run became a Warrior victory too.

So if you’ve been feeling stuck… like everyone else is passing you by… Remember to apply Mindset Rule 8: Judge your success by YOUR plan, and not others.

Follow your plan. And celebrate your progress — — because every step forward on YOUR plan… is a Warrior win!  🐶🛡️

Bruce Schutter

Every day is a chance to choose strength — because YOU'RE IN CHARGE!