It was a quiet afternoon when I decided to step away from my usual routine and head out for a walk. Little did I know, that stroll was about to take a galactic turn. As I rounded the corner, there, standing in all his tiny green glory, was none other than Yoda himself. Yes, the Yoda from Dagobah, just hanging out in my local park.
“Bruce?” Yoda said, tilting his head and giving me that trademark wise-but-mischievous look. “A conversation with you, I seek.” I blinked, still processing the sight before me. “Friends, I have,” Yoda continued, “struggling with mental health challenges, hmm. A path forward, they need. Your Mental Health Warrior Program, strong it is. Learn, I must, how to help them.”
Turns out, even Jedi Masters have friends battling mental health challenges. And Yoda, always the teacher, wanted to know more about my Mental Health Warrior Program—a self-help approach I created based on my own experiences with Bipolar Disorder, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders, and PTSD from my time as an EMT.
Powerful Starting Place: Mental Health Warrior Creed
Before I could dive into the details, Yoda raised a hand. “A strong start, they need. Help them, how can I?” His eyes locked on mine, full of intensity. That’s when I realized, the foundation of the program is the Mental Health Warrior Creed—"Bend Not Break".
“Yoda,” I said, “this creed helped me triumph over my own challenges, and it’s a powerful mindset for anyone starting their path to triumph.” “Bend, hmm?” Yoda raised a curious brow. “Powerful, this creed sounds. Explain more, you must.”
I explained how "Bend Not Break" isn’t about being invincible but rather about resilience, flexibility, and strength. We can bend—adjust, adapt—but we don't let life break us. It’s about learning how to face challenges without being destroyed by them.
Bipolar Disorder – Triumphing with “Bend Not Break”
I started with my own experience managing Bipolar Disorder. "Yoda, Bipolar is like riding an emotional rollercoaster. There are extreme highs and deep lows. In the past, I felt like I had no control, but once I embraced the warrior creed, I realized I didn’t have to fight against every high and low. Instead, I learned to manage those emotions and bend with them and then I can use warrior tools like mindfulness and self-compassion to stay grounded.”
Yoda’s Takeaway:
Yoda nodded, thoughtful. "Hmm, strong emotions, they are. Control them, you must not. Guide them, harness them, yes. A Jedi’s strength flows from the Force, as does yours from within. Embrace the energy of your emotions, let it center you.”
Alcoholism – The Path to Sobriety with the Creed
Next, I shared my struggle with Alcoholism. “At my worst, I used alcohol to numb my emotions and mental health challenges. But avoiding the pain only made things worse. When I adopted Bend Not Break, I realized I could feel my emotions and face them head-on. I didn’t need to drown them in alcohol. By bending and not breaking each day, I found the strength to stay sober.”
Yoda’s Takeaway:
Yoda’s expression grew serious. “Avoidance, the path to the Dark Side, it is. Confront your challenges, a warrior must. Drinking, hiding—they take you farther from yourself. Face the truth, and free, you will become.”
He added a suggestion. “Routine, build it will. Discipline, a Jedi needs, and so does sobriety. Consistency, your ally it is.”
Anxiety Disorders – Turning Fear into Focus
I explained how the creed helped me manage Anxiety Disorders. “Anxiety used to freeze me in place. It clouded my judgment and made me second-guess everything. But once I accepted that fear is part of life and bent with it instead of letting it break me, I could manage the anxiety. Instead of being overwhelmed, I learned to focus on the present and use my tools to triumph over it.”
Yoda’s Takeaway:
Yoda’s eyes sparkled. “Fear is the path to the Dark Side, yes. But also a teacher, it can be. Guide your fear into focus, you must. In the present moment, fear has no power.”
He smiled, “Meditate, a Jedi does, when anxious. Close your mind to what may be, see only what is.”
PTSD – Finding Peace with “Bend Not Break”
Finally, I shared how the creed helped me deal with PTSD from my time as an EMT. “There are moments that replay in my mind. But the creed helped me to stop living in the past. I learned to bend with the memories, without letting them break me. By living in the now, I found peace.”
Yoda’s Takeaway:
Yoda leaned in, his voice soft. “A warrior learns from the past, but does not live in it. Peace, you will find, when present, you remain by not breaking.”
Wrapping It Up: A Jedi’s Farewell
As we wrapped up our conversation, Yoda looked thoughtful. “Much wisdom in the warrior creed, there is. Share it, I will, with friends I must.” I grinned. “Tell them to check out the Mental Health Warrior Program when they’re ready to start their journey.”
Yoda stood slowly, clutching his walking stick. “Back to the Force, I must go,” he said, turning to leave. Then, with a twinkle in his eye, he offered one final piece of advice. “Remember, Bruce—if ever doubt you have, ‘do or do not,’ there is no try.”
As I watched him leave, his words hung in the air. Classic Yoda—always leaving you with something to chew on!
But one thing was clear: whether you’re battling Sith Lords or your own mind, the key to triumph is found in the Mental Health Warrior Creed of Bend Not Break. When we bend without breaking, we gain the strength to face any challenge life throws our way.
Bruce Schutter
Creator of the Mental Health Warrior Program and Challenge Coin
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