It was a sunny afternoon, and I found myself downtown, strolling through the park, trying to clear my head. Life’s challenges had been coming at me like a freight train, but after over 20 years of battling Bipolar Disorder, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorder, and PTSD, I’d learned how to dodge those blows.
That’s when I saw him. John Wick. Yes, the John Wick—looking unusually peaceful for someone who has made a career out of battling impossible odds. He seemed to be enjoying a rare moment of calm, sipping a coffee on a park bench, his dog lounging beside him. I couldn’t resist. “John Wick? Is that you?”
He looked up, and without missing a beat, gave me that signature nod. “Bruce, right? The guy who created the Mental Health Warrior Program?” “I’ve been meaning to talk to you. Some of your warrior principles have really resonated with me.” “Which principles?” I asked.
John leaned forward, his expression intense, as always. “The one about not letting challenges define us. I’ve had my fair share of battles—both mental and physical—and it can feel like you’re losing control of your life. But then I read Mental Health Warrior Principle 5: ‘You are not defined or limited by your life’s challenges.’ That one hit home!”
I smiled. “I know the feeling, John. After struggling with Bipolar Disorder, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorder, and PTSD for over 20 years, I reached a point where I felt like I had no control. My life’s challenges were telling me what to do—leading me straight into a suicide attempt. But after that second chance at life, I realized something: .”Mental health is the key to triumphing over any challenge."
John nodded. “That’s exactly it. When life’s challenges come at you, it’s easy to think they’re in control. But you’re saying we’ve got the power, right?” “Absolutely,” I replied. “Mental Health Warrior Principle 5 empowers us in three major ways."
1 – We Have the Tools to Manage Emotions
First, we become warriors, armed with tools to manage our emotions, and that gives us the ability to take our lives in any direction we choose.” John leaned back, clearly intrigued. “Tell me more.”
“Well, think about it. Life’s challenges—whether they’re mental health issues or just the daily grind—tend to overwhelm us emotionally. But when you’re a Mental Health Warrior, you’ve got tools that help you manage those emotions. You don’t react, you respond! That’s the key difference. And once you can manage your emotions, you’ve got control over the direction of your life. You get to make the decisions.”
John raised an eyebrow. “So, it’s like taking back the wheel?” “Exactly,” I said, feeling the excitement build."
2 – We See through the Lies Challenges Tell Us
And second, you start to see that mental health challenges lie to us. They tell us we’re not strong enough, that we can’t move forward, that we’re stuck. But when you’ve got a warrior mindset and tools to handle your emotions, you can see through those lies.”
John laughed—a rare sight. “You know, life challenges are a bit like hitmen. They’ll try to sneak up on you, make you feel powerless. But once you know their tricks, you can outsmart them.”
“Exactly!” I said, matching his enthusiasm. “Mental health challenges will try to tell you that you’re powerless, that there’s no way out. But once you’ve embraced your warrior mindset, you realize that’s all just noise. You can triumph over those challenges every day. You’ve got the power within you.” John’s dog let out a soft bark, as if in agreement, and we both chuckled.
3 – We have the Power to “Live” Life
“And the third thing,” I continued, “is that life is meant to be lived. Even with challenges, as Mental Health Warriors, we’ve actually got a leg up. We’ve learned to embrace the power of emotions. Most people go through life avoiding their emotions, but we’ve learned to accept them. And that gives us an edge. We can take our life in any direction we want, change course when needed, and keep seeking out new challenges—because we’re warriors.”
John leaned in, his eyes sharp. “So, you’re saying we can accomplish all of this with the power of Mental Health Warrior Principle 5: ‘You are not defined or limited by your life’s challenges.’ John was quiet for a moment, then, with a small smile, he said, “I like that. I’ve spent so much of my life fighting, but this… this sounds like a different kind of fight. One where I’m in control.”
I nodded. “That’s the beauty of the Mental Health Warrior Program. It’s not about fighting against yourself—it’s about empowering yourself. You’re not defined or limited by your challenges. You can always take charge of your life.”
Wrapping It Up:
John’s expression softened. “I’ve got some friends who need to hear this.” “Pass it on,” I said with a grin. “The more Mental Health Warriors out there, the better. We all have the power within us to triumph over life’s challenges. We’re not powerless—we’re powerful.”
John stood up, his dog following close behind. “Bruce,” he said, extending a hand, “thank you. I’m going to pass this message along. People need to know they have the power to take control of their lives as Mental Health Warriors.”
As I watched John and his dog disappear down the street, I knew one thing for sure: We are not defined or limited by our life’s challenges—we have the power to live an amazing life in the direction we choose!
Bruce Schutter
Creator of Mental Health Warrior Program and Challenge Coin
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