It was a sunny Thursday afternoon, and I found myself at a local convenience store, grabbing a diet soda while juggling about ten different thoughts, most of them about my 20-year struggle with Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders, and PTSD.
A struggle that left me feeling powerless, that I tried to end my life. But in those darkest moments, I realized something life-changing: Mental health is the key to overcoming challenges.
That realization led me to create the Mental Health Warrior Program—a new SELF-HELP approach designed to help anyone take charge of their emotions, triumph over challenges, and build the life they really want!
Enter Gibbs—NCIS’s Master of Mental Toughness
Suddenly, I felt a presence behind me—that unmistakable sixth sense that tells you someone important is about to appear. I turned around and nearly dropped my phone. There he was—Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Yes, the Gibbs from NCIS—the man, the myth, the Marine. The guy who can solve any case with a single glance or a well-timed head slap. Standing in line for coffee, he carried his trademark deadpan expression—somehow both intimidating and oddly comforting at the same time.
"Bruce Schutter," he said, his voice carrying that gravelly authority that makes you instinctively stand a little straighter. "We need to talk." I blinked, unsure if I was being recruited for a covert mission or about to be grilled for reasons unknown.
Then, in a rare twist of fate, Gibbs cracked what could only be described as a micro-smile—just the slightest twitch at the corner of his lips. "I’ve been reading your book, 53 Mindset Rules of a Mental Health Warrior, and every day I use Mindset Rule 26—'Learn from your missteps, but never stop because of them.'"
"Your Mindset Rules," he said, "are powerful warrior weapons. "These rules ground you in stressful moments. They keep emotional turbulence in check and provide clarity when it feels like the world’s caving in. When trouble hits—and it always does—Mindset Rules empower you to face it head-on, turning obstacles into opportunities for growth and resilience."
Then, in true Gibbs fashion, he wasted no time getting to the point. "Let me give you three examples of how Mindset Rule 26 works—not just for me, but for anyone!"
Lesson 1: Learn from Your Mistakes, but Don’t Freeze Up
Gibbs took a long sip of his coffee. "I’ve made plenty of mistakes. Like that one time I misjudged a suspect’s intentions and let him walk. Turns out, he was guilty as sin. I could’ve kicked myself, but instead, I focused on how to fix it. We tracked him down, caught him two days later. The lesson? You can’t dwell on the misstep—you fix it and move forward.”
He paused, letting that sink in. "In your life, it’s the same. Maybe you mess up a job interview, blow a business opportunity, or make a decision that tanks your finances. Fine. Acknowledge it, but don’t bench yourself. Get back in the game with a new strategy."
Our Turn:
I nodded, thinking of my own financial crises that hit after I thought I had life all figured out post-sobriety. I'd nearly benched myself for good, but Mindset Rule 26 was like a mental head slap—get back in there!
Lesson 2: Perfection Isn’t Real—Adaptation Is
"Another time," Gibbs continued, “we had a case where every lead dried up. I wanted it to go one way; it went another. I could’ve pushed for the outcome I had in my head, but the case wasn’t going to bend to my will. Instead, I adapted. Turned out, the solution was in the details we overlooked. The misstep was thinking I had to be right the first time.”
He gave me a meaningful look, one eyebrow raised. "In life, people think they can’t fail once they get on the ‘right’ path. You know that’s a lie, Bruce. People change. Circumstances change. You adapt, or you get stuck! That’s Rule 26 for you.”
Our Turn:
It was like Gibbs was pulling a page from my own playbook. I’d thought getting sober and managing my bipolar disorder meant smooth sailing from then on. But no—challenges were part of the deal. That’s where adaptation came in, and trust me, Gibbs made sure I wasn’t forgetting that any time soon.
Lesson 3: Don’t Let Missteps Define You—Let Them Strengthen You
Gibbs leaned back, crossing his arms. "The biggest lesson? Your missteps are part of your story, but they don’t define it. I’ve lost agents, made bad calls, but if I let those moments control me, I’d never solve another case. Instead, I use them. They make me sharper, more determined."
He leaned in, his stare cutting right to my core. "You fall back, but then you come back stronger. Same thing with your mental health, Bruce. Bipolar, Anxiety, PTSD—they don’t define you. How you get back up after a bad day, that’s what defines you."
Our Turn:
The way he said it, I knew Gibbs wasn’t just handing out advice. This was a man who lived and breathed resilience. It wasn’t a platitude; it was a lifestyle. And honestly, it sounded a lot like what I talked about on my podcast. You don’t let your challenges control your life; you grab the reins and keep moving forward.
Out-the-Door Advice
We finished our coffee, and Gibbs glanced at his watch. "Well, Bruce," he said, standing up. "Crime doesn’t wait. Neither should you." Before I could respond with something witty or profound, he was halfway to the door.
He paused, giving me one last look. "Oh, and Bruce… I’m going to keep reading your book, 53 Mindset Rules of a Mental Health Warrior. I can’t wait to use the other 52 on my life’s adventures!"
And just like that, Gibbs was gone, probably off to solve a case using nothing more than a knowing glance and a gut feeling. Meanwhile, I sat there, buzzing from caffeine and an unexpected dose of wisdom as I imagined Gibbs interrogating my missteps like suspects in a high-stakes case.
But that’s the beauty of Mindset Rule 26—'Learn from your missteps, but never let them stop you!' Because, as Gibbs would say, the case of life is still wide open, and you’ve got more ground to cover as a Mental Health Warrior!
Bruce Schutter
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