Mental Health Disorders–You Are NOT Broken: John Wick, Warrior Tools & the Power of a New Mindset
- Bruce Schutter
- Apr 3
- 4 min read
It happened on a random Tuesday. I was grabbing coffee at a quiet little café when I felt a presence—intense, laser-focused, and lightly scented with gunpowder and emotional growth. I turned, and there he was: John Wick, legendary assassin, dog lover, and fellow Mental Health Warrior.
Now, you’d think a conversation with John Wick would revolve around revenge, tactical gear, or maybe an underground network of secret hotel assassins. But not today. Today, we talked about something far more powerful.
John leaned in, eyes sharp but soft. “People think that if you struggle with mental health disorders, you’re damaged. Flawed. Broken. But that’s a lie! And lies are what keep us stuck.”
He was right. As the creator of the Mental Health Warrior Program, I know all too well how damaging that belief can be. For 20 years, I battled Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. I hit rock bottom and I tried to end my life. But I got a second chance—and in that darkness, I discovered something life-changing: Mental Health isn’t a weakness, it’s our strength!
With this knowledge, I built the Mental Health Warrior Program—a new SELF-HELP approach to empower people to take charge of their emotions, overcome challenges, and build the life they really want.
John knew my story—heck, he was one of the first honorary Warriors. And he didn’t just join; he took action and started triumphing over his own inner battles.
So there we were—two warriors, sipping diet sodas and breaking down the myth that we are broken. And John, ever the man of action, shared three powerful ways to break free from that mindset and step into your strength.
Action 1: Take Back Control – One Choice at a Time
John sipped his diet soda like it was a tactical maneuver. “The first move is recognizing what’s in your control. You can’t rewrite the past. You can’t control the diagnosis. But you can control your next move. That’s where the power is.”
This is the essence of SELF-HELP leading to SELF-EMPOWERMENT. When we focus on what we can control—our choices, our routines, our thoughts—we shift from helpless to powerful.
John’s Example:
“When I start spiraling,” he said, “I clean my weapons. It’s a routine. It gives me clarity. It brings me back into the now. And yeah, sometimes I alphabetize my ammo just to feel in control again.”
Our Turn:
No need to polish your katana. Start small:
Make your bed. (yes, thanks Mom)
Go for a walk.
Choose a healthy meal using the 3 Food Rules of a Warrior.
Pick a Mental Health Warrior Tool and use it.
One choice at a time is all it takes to start turning your ship around!
Action 2: Reframe the Narrative
“The story you tell yourself is everything,” John said, staring into the distance like he was narrating his own internal documentary. “If you keep saying you’re broken, your brain believes it. But if you say you’re a warrior, even if you’re limping—that story has power.”
This one hit home!
For years, I labeled myself by my disorders: I am bipolar. I am anxious. I am a failure. But once I reframed that to: “I am a Mental Health Warrior learning to manage bipolar” and the shame started to fall away. My identity shifted—from victim to fighter!
John’s Example:
“When people hear ‘John Wick,’ they think of the boogeyman,” he said. “But you know what I think of? A man who refused to let grief destroy him. I used to think I was just angry. Now I know—I’m healing. One day, one emotion at a time.”
Our Turn:
Change the way you speak to yourself:
Instead of “I’m broken,” say “I’m growing.”
Instead of “I failed again,” say “I’m still in the fight.”
Instead of “I can’t,” say “I haven’t yet—but I will.”
The warrior mindset begins with the story you tell yourself. Make it a good one!
Action 3: Armor Up with Daily Tools
“Consistency beats intensity,” John said, pulling a shiny coin from his pocket. It wasn’t one from The Continental—it was his Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin. “I carry this everywhere. When things get rough, I hold it. It grounds me.”
That’s the secret sauce: Warrior Tools. The Mental Health Warrior Program is packed with them—not gimmicks, not fluff. Real tools that help you manage your emotions, shift your mindset and act when your brain says "don’t bother."
John’s Example:
“Every morning, I journal. I list three things I can control, three I can’t, and three things I’m grateful for.
Then I move my body. Doesn’t have to be combat training—sometimes it’s just yoga with a YouTube guy named Kevin.”
Over time, these simple, consistent actions become your mental armor—helping you stay focused, calm, and strong when life throws punches. Because the truth is, you don’t need to be perfect—you just need to be prepared. And that’s what Warrior Tools are for!
Our Turn:
Start your day with one Warrior Tool.
Keep a grounding object in your pocket—like your own Challenge Coin.
Move your body—even if it’s just to “Eye of the Tiger” in your kitchen.
Use your tools. Every day. Warriors train even when no one’s watching!
The Wrap-Up: Not Broken, Just Battle-Tested
John looked at me, half-smiling in that "I’ve seen things" kind of way. “You know, Bruce... People think mental health strength looks like never breaking. But real strength is what happens after the struggle. Becoming a Mental Health Warrior. The rebuilding. The rising above our challenges.”
I nodded. “Kind of like that time I rebuilt a desk without instructions.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Exactly like that. Except maybe with fewer leftover screws.” We both laughed. It felt good—like victory.
Because here’s the truth:
We’re not broken. We’re battle-tested
We’re here. We’re learning. We’re fighting
And every day we choose to show up, we win.
Bruce Schutter
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