Defeating the Doom of Current Events: Winnie, Eeyore, and a Mental Health Warrior’s Secret Weapon
- Bruce Schutter
- Mar 14
- 5 min read
Yesterday, I was enjoying a quiet afternoon, sipping my tea and pondering life’s mysteries—like why the toast always lands butter-side down—when there was a knock at my door. Well, more like a half-hearted thud. A familiar voice followed.
"Bruce? It’s me… Eeyore. I brought Pooh… but I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t open the door."
I swung the door open immediately. There stood Eeyore, looking as gloomy as a rain cloud that had just been evicted from the sky. Beside him, Winnie the Pooh, my ever-cheerful friend, was… well, not-so-cheerful. His ears drooped, and even his honey jar looked sad.
“Pooh?” I asked, confused. “Why do you look like someone told you honey has been discontinued?”
“Oh, Bruce,” Pooh sighed dramatically. “It’s not the honey. It’s everything. Eeyore’s been down about the state of the world, and now I think I caught the sadness bug.”
Eeyore let out a long sigh. “Chaos everywhere. No peace. Prices rising. Uncertainty. And my tail fell off again.”
Pooh sniffled. “It’s all just… so much.”
Ah. I saw what was happening here. My warrior friends needed reinforcements.
“Well, my dear friends,” I said, ushering them inside, “you came to the right place. Because you are Mental Health Warriors, and Warriors don’t just suffer through challenges—we triumph over them!”
The Warrior’s Secret Weapon: A List?!
They knew my story—20 years battling Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders, and PTSD. They knew how I felt powerless, hit rock bottom, and even tried to end my life. But in that darkness, I discovered a life-changing truth: Mental health is the key to overcoming any challenge!
With this realization, I created the Mental Health Warrior Program—a revolutionary SELF-HELP approach designed to help anyone take charge of their emotions and triumph over challenges.
But self-help doesn’t mean doing everything alone. It means having the right tools and the support of the warrior tribe! And today? I had just the tool they needed.
“A list!” I announced dramatically, waving a piece of paper in the air.
Eeyore blinked. “Oh. A list. Great. Another endless parade of things I have to do.”
Pooh scratched his head. “Or is this a list of things not to do?”
I grinned. “Neither, my friends. We’re flipping the concept of a ‘list’ into a powerful tool of action and mindset shifts—called The Empowerment List!”
I explained. "This is a list of things you CAN DO—each one designed to empower you and create real results before dinner!"
Eeyore shrugged. “Meh. Worth a shot.” And from him, that was practically a raving endorsement—so we jumped into The Empowerment List!
The Empowerment List: 17 Warrior Truths & Results
1️) We can’t control when life throws us a challenge— but we ALWAYS have the power to choose our response, which means we choose to take action and triumph!
2) When something makes you feel down— give yourself a cookie break! (Just make sure it follows the 3 Food Rules of a Mental Health Warrior, of course.)
3) You are stronger than you feel right now— because resilience is built one small step at a time, and you’ve already taken the first step!
4) Your value is NOT measured by your productivity— so take that break and feel zero guilt. You deserve it!
5) A deep breath may not solve everything— but it resets your nervous system and instantly gives you more control!
6) When everything feels overwhelming— focus on just one thing you can do right now. Boom! Momentum activated.
7) Kindness is a warrior’s greatest weapon— so send that text, give that compliment, or smile at someone. You just made the world better.
8) Movement isn’t about punishment—it’s about power! So take a stretch, do a wiggle dance, or march around the room. You’re energized now.
9) Your past struggles? They made you wiser— which means today, you have experience points others don’t. Use them!
10) Celebrate every win— even if it’s just getting out of bed. Because every win stacks up to unstoppable success!
11) Your inner critic is just an overcaffeinated gremlin— tell it to sit down, because today, your warrior self is in charge!
12) Laughter is like a mental reset button— so watch that funny video or tell a ridiculous joke. You just unlocked instant relief!
13) Negative thoughts don’t define you— they’re just brain static. Tune into a better frequency and reclaim your mindset!
14) Rest isn’t laziness—it’s recharging your warrior energy! So nap, breathe, relax, and prepare to conquer the next challenge!
15) You don’t have to be perfect— you just have to show up and keep moving forward!
16) Progress over perfection— because trying is what turns us into warriors. And you? You’re already winning.
17) You are NEVER alone in this fight— you are part of the Mental Health Warrior Tribe! And together? We always triumph!
The Energy Dispels Gloom
By the time I finished reading, Pooh was bouncing in his seat. “I love this list and I usually do not like lists!” he exclaimed. “Bruce, this is amazing! I'm going to print it out and hang it on my bathroom mirror!”
Eeyore, shockingly, was nodding along. “Huh. Not bad. That part about progress over perfection… I liked that.”
They started talking excitedly, listing all the ways they could use The Empowerment List. Pooh was planning to share it with Piglet and Rabbit, and Eeyore too even suggested framing it for his wall—for emergencies.
Before I could even get a word in, they were already at the door, rushing off, energized, empowered, and ready to tackle the day as Mental Health Warriors!
Final Thoughts: One Time Exception
As I watched them disappear down the road, I smiled to myself. No more lists! But this one-time exception—definitely paid off. It’s a simple, powerful warrior tool to keep in your back pocket for emergencies!
So, if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just… blah?
📜 Read the list.
✅ Pick one thing.
💪 Take action.
And before dinner tonight, you’ll feel stronger, lighter, and more in control. Because you are a Mental Health Warrior—moving forward every day, one small but powerful step at a time!
Bruce Schutter
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