Talking About Mental Health Unlocks YOUR Power: Winnie the Pooh and Mindset Rule 3
- Bruce Schutter
- Jan 2
- 6 min read
It was a breezy Wednesday afternoon, and I was enjoying a peaceful stroll through the park when I spotted a familiar figure. Well… not exactly a face — more like a round, yellow belly stretching against a slightly-too-snug red shirt.
You guessed it: Winnie the Pooh, sitting under a tree, staring thoughtfully into the distance.
“Hey, Pooh! How’s it going?” I called as I sat down beside him.
Pooh scratched his head. “Oh, you know — the usual. Looking for honey and thinking about things. Mostly honey.” He paused, his expression turning unusually serious. “But lately… I’ve been thinking about something else.”
That piqued my curiosity. “What’s that, Pooh?”
He sighed. “Well, it seems every time I chat with my friends, someone is always talking about their physical aches and pains. You know — Eeyore’s back, Rabbit’s allergies, Tigger’s springy tail giving him cramps.” He frowned. “But when I mention feeling down or anxious, everyone goes quiet. It’s as if talking about mental health makes everyone uncomfortable.”
I nodded. “Oh, I get it, Pooh. Happens all the time. If I mention a sore back or a headache, everyone jumps in with advice. But the moment I talk about anxiety or PTSD, it’s like I dropped an awkward silence bomb.”
I shook my head. “And not talking about my mental health is a big problem — because silence steals our strength.”
Winnie the Pooh looked relieved. “Yes! Exactly! What can we do about it?”
The Warrior Solution
Now Pooh knows my story — how for 20 years I battled Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. Those struggles left me feeling so powerless that I tried to end my life. But in that dark 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!
One of the most important parts of the program — and of my own healing — came from learning just how powerful it is to talk openly about mental health.
That’s why, in 53 Mindset Rules of a Mental Health Warrior, I created Mindset Rule 3: Talk About It. It’s a daily reminder to take action — to speak openly about what we’re feeling instead of carrying it alone.
Because when we talk about our mental health, we’re in charge — NOT our challenges.
Pooh’s ears perked up, his curiosity growing. “So… talking about mental health can actually help us?”
“Oh, absolutely,” I said with a smile. “And let me show you why — because when we start talking, we unlock three powerful strengths that help every one of us become a Mental Health Warrior.”
Strength 1: We’re Not Alone
“When we talk openly about mental health,” I began, “we realize something powerful — we’re not alone. Everyone struggles with emotions, because emotions are part of life. You, me, Eeyore, Piglet… everyone has their ups and downs.”
I paused for a moment. “This was a big one for me.”
“For a long time, I kept everything inside. I thought talking about my struggles meant I was weak or broken. So I stayed quiet. And the quieter I became, the more alone I felt.”
I shook my head. “But when I finally started talking — really talking — something changed. I realized I wasn’t the only one struggling. Other people had their own battles too. And the moment I stopped hiding my mental health, I started feeling connected. And that connection became a source of real strength.”
Pooh’s Takeaway:
Pooh nodded slowly, his ears twitching thoughtfully. “So… when I feel worried or sad, I’m not the only one?”
“Exactly, Pooh,” I said with a smile. “You’re never alone in this. When we talk about how we’re feeling, we create community. We build strength together because we know we have each other’s backs. And sometimes, just saying things out loud makes the weight feel lighter.”
Pooh’s face brightened, his familiar warm smile returning. “That makes a lot of sense. I bet Eeyore would feel better if he knew we all understood how he felt.”
“You’re right,” I said. “And just like Eeyore would feel better knowing we care, you would too. When we talk about our struggles, we remind each other that we don’t have to carry them alone — because we’re stronger together!”
Strength 2: Talking Leads to Action
I continued, “The second strength we gain from talking openly about mental health is this: when we say something out loud, it becomes real. And that’s a powerful position to be in — because once something is real, we can stop hiding from it. And when we stop hiding, we can take action.”
I paused. “This one changed my life.”
“For years, I kept everything bottled up — my anxiety, my depression, my drinking. I told myself I could handle it alone. But all that silence didn’t make me stronger… it kept me stuck.”
I took a breath and went on. “The first time I finally admitted out loud to someone that I was struggling, something shifted. It felt like a weight lifted. Saying it made it real — and because it was real, I couldn’t ignore it anymore. That’s when I started taking steps to get better. That’s when I stopped hiding and started fighting back.”
“That’s the power of talking,” I said. “It turns awareness into action.”
Pooh’s Takeaway:
Winnie the Pooh tilted his head thoughtfully. “So… by talking about our struggles, we make them real?”
“That’s right, Pooh,” I said. “When worries stay trapped inside, they’re vague and shapeless — like a fog that just lingers. But when we talk about them, they take form. And once they have shape, we can actually do something about them.”
Pooh scratched his head. “You mean like when I’m worried about running out of honey, and I tell Piglet — and he always has a good idea about where we can find more?”
I laughed. “Exactly. And mental health works the same way. Once we admit we’re struggling, we open the door to solutions. We stop pretending everything’s fine and start taking steps to feel better.”
Pooh nodded, a small smile forming. “That does feel better. You can’t find more honey if you don’t tell someone you’re out.”
“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” I replied.
Strength 3: Shared Solutions Empower Everyone
“And finally,” I said, “the third strength we gain from talking openly about mental health is the power of shared solutions. When we speak up about what’s helped us, we don’t just help ourselves — we give others tools they can use too.”
I paused. “This was a huge turning point for me.”
“When I finally opened up about what I was going through, something unexpected happened. People didn’t just listen — they shared. Their experiences. Their tools. The small actions that had helped them get through hard days.”
I smiled. “Those shared solutions became my foundation. They helped me build my own Warrior toolkit — and they become even more powerful when we share them.”
Pooh’s Takeaway:
Pooh nodded eagerly, his ears bouncing. “So… if I share what helps me feel better, it could help someone else too?”
“Exactly,” I said. “In the Mental Health Warrior Program, I’ve learned practical tools to manage emotions and face challenges head-on. When I share those tools, others can try them too. And when they share what works for them, we all grow stronger.”
Pooh clapped his paws together. “That’s brilliant! I can share solutions with Piglet, Eeyore and even Tigger. And if they share what works for them, we’ll all feel better!”
Wrap Up
As our conversation came to a close, Pooh and I sat quietly, soaking in the power of what we had uncovered. Talking about mental health isn’t just helpful — it’s necessary.
I reached into my bag and handed Pooh a copy of 53 Mindset Rules of a Mental Health Warrior.
“Here you go, Pooh,” I said. “Mindset Rule 3 — Talk About It — lives right here. Use it every day. When we talk openly about mental health, we take charge — not our challenges.”
Winnie the Pooh cradled the book like a fresh pot of honey. “Oh, Bruce, this is wonderful! I’ll read it — and I’ll remind my friends that talking about mental health isn’t scary. It’s what makes us stronger!”
And if you are struggling, take a page out of Pooh’s book and start the conversation today. One honest moment. One open discussion. One shared story.
Because when we talk about mental health, we don’t just cope — together, we THRIVE!.
Bruce Schutter
Every day is a chance to choose strength — because YOU'RE IN CHARGE!
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