As an Emergency Medical Technician, I’ve seen my fair share of chaos. But nothing compared to the rollercoaster of battling Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders, and PTSD. One day, amid my struggles, I encountered Yoda. Yes, the Yoda, the wise, green Jedi Master from a galaxy far, far away.
The Meeting
Picture this: I’m sitting in my backyard, feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges, when suddenly, out of nowhere, Yoda appears. Yes, life is always full of surprises!
Yoda: “Struggles, you have. Help, you need. Jedi, you are not. But Warrior, you can be.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation. Here was Yoda, standing barely two feet tall, ready to impart his wisdom. Little did I know, this was the beginning of a life-changing journey.
For together, we devised ways to apply the Mental Health Warrior Creed and triumph over mental health challenges.
The Warrior Creed: “Bend Not Break”
What is it?
Yoda introduced me to the concept of a mantra, a powerful mental health tool used to build and reinforce a new mindset. A mantra involves repeating a powerful statement multiple times, aloud, to convey a message or approach.
The Mantra:
“I will Bend Not Break when Life Challenges me!”
The Results:
This mantra serves two purposes. First, it reminds us to embrace the strength of bending without breaking when confronted with life’s challenges. Instead of being overwhelmed and reverting to ineffective solutions, we learn to bend under the weight of the challenge, staying in control. Secondly, now that we are emotionally centered, we can take the steps to triumph over any challenge life throws our way!
How I Apply the Warrior Creed (with Yoda’s Help!)
BIPOLAR DISORDER
There’s no magic wand to make bipolar disorder disappear. In the past, I often broke under emotional extremes, knowing I couldn’t remove them from my life. But as a Mental Health Warrior, I now approach these challenges differently. By learning to bend, I prevent myself from breaking when my emotions go to the extremes. This allows me to process my emotions, use my warrior tools and effectively respond to emotional challenges.
Yoda’s Bipolar Wisdom:
“Embrace, you must, the full spectrum of emotions. Control, you can, your response.”
With Yoda’s guidance, I learned to manage the full range of emotions. This approach has made a huge difference in my life, as my Bipolar still sends my emotions swirling but today, I respond and stay in control. That is how I triumph and move forward each day.
ALCOHOLISM
Alcoholism was a dark and slippery slope. I used to drink to avoid my problems, thinking it would give me space to manage them. But in reality, I was just delaying the inevitable and giving my challenges more power.
Yoda’s Alcoholism Wisdom:
“Face your challenges, you must. Hide, you cannot.”
By facing my problems head-on, I gained control. The mantra “Bend Not Break” kept me grounded, reminding me that I had the strength to endure without resorting to alcohol. This approach helped me maintain sobriety and reclaim my life.
ANXIETY DISORDERS
Anxiety can make even the smallest challenges seem insurmountable. My anxiety often blew things out of proportion, leaving me paralyzed with fear. Or I would break and turn to short term solutions, like trying to avoid the anxiety by drinking. Which again put me right back into the circle of problems, never to emerge.
Yoda’s Anxiety Wisdom:
“Bend, not break. Focus, you must, on the present moment.”
By bending instead of breaking, I learned to stay present and grounded. I started jotting down my challenges and possible solutions, a simple yet powerful action step that gave me a sense of control. With that dose of self-empowerment, I would then face my challenges, with warrior solutions in hand. And much to my pleasant surprise I triumphed time after time, which set me up to build greater strength to face anxiety the next time it arose!
PTSD
PTSD from my time as an EMT was a relentless shadow. The trauma and stress felt insurmountable at times, leading me to feel like I was stuck in life, never moving forward.
Yoda’s PTSD Wisdom:
“Action, take you must. In control, you are.”
With Yoda’s encouragement, I took action. I acknowledged my PTSD, faced it head-on, and sought help. This proactive approach, inspired by the mantra, helped me manage my PTSD by learning to process my emotions, taking life lessons from them that I could then apply to my life. Or simply stated… I regained control!
Yoda’s Parting Lesson
Yoda: “Bend, not break. Strong, you are. Triumph, you will.”
By embracing the Warrior Creed, I learned to bend without breaking, face my challenges head-on, and take action. This approach has transformed all areas of my life, helping me manage my mental health struggles and any challenge that life throws my way. For today I stand strong as a “Jedi” Mental Health Warrior Master!
Insights For Us All
My encounter with Yoda illuminated the profound strength of the Mental Health Warrior Creed. Adopting the principle of "Bend Not Break" revolutionized how I tackle life's immense challenges. Now, as a seasoned Mental Health Warrior, I'm equipped with the necessary tools and mindset to overcome any obstacle. Yoda's teachings have made me more resilient and prepared for life's surprises.
So, whenever life sends a challenge your way, draw on Yoda’s teachings and the Mental Health Warrior Creed. Embrace life's unpredictable twists with the fortitude of a warrior!
Bruce Schutter
(Creator of the Mental Health Warrior Program and Challenge Coin)
Comments