Mental Health Warrior “Anti-List”: Winnie and Eeyore Take Charge Amongst the Chaos of Current Life
- Bruce Schutter
- Oct 9
- 4 min read
Yesterday, I was enjoying a quiet afternoon, sipping my diet soda and pondering life’s great mysteries — like why toast always lands butter-side down — when there came a knock at my door. Well, more like a half-hearted thud. Then 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 was Winnie the Pooh — my ever-cheerful friend, now 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’s 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’ve caught the sadness bug.”
Eeyore let out a long sigh. “Chaos everywhere. 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. I’ve got a Secret Warrior Weapon that’ll help you take charge and triumph over the chaos!”
Why They Came to Me
They knew my story — twenty years battling Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. This 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 charge of your emotions, triumph over challenges and build the life you really want!
But here’s the thing: self-help doesn’t mean going it alone. It means having the right tools and the support of a Warrior Tribe.
And today, I had just the Warrior tool they needed!
“Anti-List”: Secret Warrior Weapon
“The Mental Health Warrior’s secret weapon — the Anti-List!” I declared, waving a piece of paper in the air.
Eeyore blinked. “Oh. A list. Great. Another endless parade of things I’ll probably fail to finish.”
Pooh tilted his head. “Or is it a list of things not to do?”
I grinned. “Neither, my friends. We’re flipping the whole idea of a ‘list’ on its head. This one isn’t about pressure — it’s about power. It’s called... The Empowerment List!”
“This is a list of small doable actions you can take — each one designed to lift your mood, shift your mindset and help you create real results before dinner.”
Eeyore sighed. “Meh. Worth a shot.”
And coming from him, that was practically a standing ovation. So, we dove right into The Empowerment List!
The Empowerment List: 17 Warrior Truths & Results
We can’t control what life throws at us — but we ALWAYS have the power to choose our response. And that means we choose to take action and triumph!
Feeling down — Take a cookie break! 🍪 (Just make sure it follows the 3 Food Rules of a Mental Health Warrior.)
You’re stronger than you feel right now — because resilience is built one small step at a time, and you’ve already taken the first step.
Your value isn’t measured by productivity — so take that break and feel zero guilt. You’ve earned it.
A deep breath may not fix everything — but it resets your nervous system and gives you back control.
When everything feels overwhelming, focus on just one thing you can do right now — Boom, momentum activated.
Kindness is a Warrior’s greatest weapon — send that text, give that compliment, or smile at someone. You just made the world better.
Movement isn’t punishment — it’s power! Stretch, dance, or march around the room. You’re energized now.
Your past struggles made you wiser — you’ve earned experience points others don’t have. Use them!
Celebrate every win — even if it’s just getting out of bed. Every small victory adds up to unstoppable progress.
Your inner critic is just an overcaffeinated gremlin — tell it to sit down. Your Warrior self is in charge today.
Laughter is your reset button — watch a funny video or tell a ridiculous joke. You just unlocked instant relief.
Negative thoughts don’t define you — they’re just brain static. Tune to a better frequency and reclaim your mindset.
Rest isn’t laziness — it’s recharging your Warrior energy. Nap, breathe, reset, and rise stronger.
You don’t have to be perfect — you just have to show up and keep moving forward.
Progress over perfection — trying is what turns us into Warriors. And you? You’re already winning.
You are NEVER alone in this fight — you are part of the Mental Health Warrior Tribe. Together, we always triumph. ⚔️🛡️
Energy Dispels the Gloom
By the time I finished reading, Pooh was bouncing in his seat. “I love this list — and I usually don’t 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.”
Soon, the two of them were talking over each other, buzzing with ideas. Pooh planned to share it with Piglet and Rabbit, while Eeyore — in true Eeyore fashion — said he might frame it for his wall. “You know,” he mumbled, “for emergencies.”
Before I could even get another word in, they were already halfway out the door — energized, empowered, and ready to face the day as true Mental Health Warriors.
Wrap Up: The One Time Exception
As I watched them disappear down the road, I smiled to myself. NO MORE LISTS!
But this one-time exception? Totally worth it. It’s a simple, powerful Warrior tool to keep in your back pocket for mental health emergencies — the kind that can turn a tough day into a triumphant one.
So, if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just… blah:
📜 Read the list.
✅ Pick one thing.
💪 Take action.
Before dinner tonight, you’ll feel stronger, lighter and more in control — because you are a Mental Health Warrior, moving forward every day!
Bruce Schutter
Every day is a chance to choose strength — because YOU'RE IN CHARGE!
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