Stay Emotionally Grounded in Chaotic Times: John Wick & the Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin
- Bruce Schutter
- Sep 2
- 4 min read
It’s not every day you run into John Wick at the grocery store. But there I was, standing in the frozen foods aisle, torn between buying organic kale or surrendering to ice cream, when I spotted him.
Dressed in his signature all-black attire, calm as a Zen master in aisle five, John was casually studying a pack of frozen dumplings. Even assassins need to eat.
Naturally, I had to ask the burning question: “John, with everything going on in the world, how do you stay emotionally calm and grounded?”
He smirked, reached into his pocket, and pulled out the Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin I had given him. With assassin-level precision, he flipped it between his fingers. “Simple,” he said. “This coin keeps me grounded — every single day.”
The Warrior Grounding Tool
Now, John and I are fellow Mental Health Warriors. I had shared my story with him a while back — how I struggled for 20 years with Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD from my time as an EMT with the local rescue squad during high school and college. Those battles left me feeling so powerless that I tried to end my life. But in my darkest time, 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.
John had found that same truth in his own battles. He’s been a fellow Mental Health Warrior ever since — and he uses his Challenge Coin every single day.
Now, this was a student-teaching-the-teacher moment, and I wasn’t about to pass it up!
“Okay, Wick. Enlighten me.” He gave a slight nod. “Here are three ways to stay emotionally grounded in chaotic times. And trust me — they work.”
1. The Coin as a Physical Grounding Tool
John held up the coin and pressed it firmly between his fingers. “In the heat of chaos, whether it’s a firefight or just standing in line behind someone who won’t stop arguing with the self-checkout machine, I use this.”
“One time, I had about twenty guys coming after me in a hallway. I had two options: panic or stay grounded. So, I reached into my pocket, felt the weight of the coin, traced the ridges, and let its coolness slow me down. That simple act gave my brain something solid to hold onto.
The panic didn’t own me anymore — I did. I took a breath and reminded myself: I’m still here. I’m in control.”
Our Turn:
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or like you’re losing control, grab your Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin. Notice its weight. Feel the design and even the temperature of the coin. That physical connection pulls you out of the spiral and back into the present moment — not lost in worst-case scenarios.
I nodded. “So when I’m about to lose my patience with someone who won’t stop scrolling their phone at a green light, I should grab my coin instead of my horn?”
John smirked. “Exactly, my Mental Health Warrior friend.”
2. The Coin as a Mental Reset Button
John flipped the coin in his palm and caught it smoothly. “This thing? It’s not just for show. I use it as a reset button.”
“I was tracking a target across Rome. Everything was going sideways, and I was seconds from losing my cool. Instead of letting frustration control me, I flipped my coin, caught it, and let that small action reset my focus. The flip broke the spiral — and reminded me I wasn’t powerless, I'm in charge!”
Our Turn:
When emotions build up fast — anger, stress, frustration — you can use a small physical action to interrupt the cycle. Flip your Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin. Feel the catch. Let the motion mark a clean break from the spiral.
I grinned. “So next time I’m in a tense moment, instead of spiraling, I flip my coin, catch it, and boom — I’m back in control!”
John nodded. “Exactly. Works every time.”
3. The Coin as a Reminder of Strength
John held up the coin one last time. “Most importantly? It reminds me that I am a Mental Health Warrior.”
“When I was at my lowest — when I thought everything was lost — I held onto this. The weight of the coin in my hand reminded me of everything I had already survived.
It pulled me back from the brink and grounded me in a simple truth: I’m still here. I’ve fought before, and I still have fight in me. Sometimes that reminder is enough to keep moving forward when nothing else works.”
Our Turn:
We all hit moments where defeat feels heavier than hope. When that happens, hold your Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin. Look at it and remember: you’ve already faced battles, and you’re still standing. That coin becomes proof in your hand that you are stronger than the storm — and that strength is still alive in you.
I exhaled. “Damn, John. That’s powerful.”
He nodded. “It’s why I carry it with me everywhere. It doesn’t just ground me — it empowers me!”
Wrap Up
Just then, I glanced down at my cart. “We should probably actually buy food before we get emotionally grounded but physically starving.”
John nodded. “Agreed. No one makes good decisions when they’re hangry.”
As I watched John Wick calmly bag his groceries, I pulled out my Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin and felt its weight in my hand. His lessons reminded me of something vital: the coin isn’t just a trinket — it’s a lifeline, a tool anyone can use to stay emotionally calm and grounded no matter what chaos the world throws our way.
So, the next time it feels like the world is spinning out of control, grab your Warrior Coin, take a deep breath, and remind yourself: I am here. I am in control. I am a Mental Health Warrior!
Bruce Schutter
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