Mental Health Is Your Superpower: Just Ask the Minions How They Use It Every Day
- Bruce Schutter
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
It was supposed to be a quiet Saturday. I had my diet soda, my laptop, and exactly zero plans to deal with small yellow sidekicks.
And then I heard it—the unmistakable sound of chaos. High-pitched yelling. Loud thuds. A crash that sounded like a blender meeting a trampoline.
I peeked outside.
Minions! Dozens of them. Wearing superhero capes made from kitchen towels, socks over their heads, and one somehow dressed like Wonder Woman using spaghetti noodles and duct tape.
Kevin waved at me with a frying pan. “BRUUUCCCEEE!” Oh no!
The Mission: Become Superheroes
Turns out the Minions had been binge-watching superhero movies all week. Batman, Spider-Man, the Avengers—if it wore a cape or dramatically jumped from buildings, they were into it.
“But we feel… not super,” Bob admitted, slumping onto my porch.
“Yeah,” Stuart added. “We mess up. We don’t know what to do. The world’s crazy. We try to help, but it’s exhausting. We want to be like heroes. Save the world!”
I sat down with them. “You don’t need to leap off a skyscraper to be a hero. Want to know a real superpower?”
They nodded eagerly. “Mental Health!”
The Minions blinked. “Seriously?” Stuart asked. “Not laser eyes?”
“Nope. Mental health is what helps you stay focused, bounce back, and show up again and again. Without it, even Batman would lose his Batmobile keys and cry into his cereal.”
Why They Came to Me
The Minions know my story. For 20 years, I battled Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. It left me feeling so powerless, I tried to end my life. But through that darkness, I discovered something life-changing: mental health is the key to overcoming any challenge.
That’s why I created the Mental Health Warrior Program—a bold new SELF-HELP approach designed to put YOU in charge! So you can take control of your emotions, triumph over life’s challenges, and build the life you truly want.
Basically: Superhero training, but with fewer explosions.
Minions Try Superpowers (And Fail Hilariously)
The Minions wanted to test this idea. First, they tried a few traditional superhero moves.
1. Super Strength – Bob tried to lift a parked car. He got a hernia and a lecture from a squirrel.
2. Flight – Stuart built a rocket backpack using soda bottles and Mentos. He’s currently lodged in a tree.
3. X-ray Vision – Kevin made cardboard goggles with holes. He walked into a fence.
Finally, exhausted and slightly scorched, they slumped down. “Maybe we try your way,” Kevin said.
I smiled. “Let’s train like real heroes: Mental Health Warriors!”
4 Superpower Secrets from the Mental Health Warrior Path
1. Superpower: Emotional Strength
True strength isn’t about lifting cars. It’s about holding space for your feelings—and still moving forward.
Bob raised a finger. “Even if feelings are messy?” “Especially then,” I said.
Minion’s Takeaway:
Next time you feel overwhelmed, take three deep breaths and name the emotion. “I feel anxious.” “I feel angry.” Just naming it gives you power over it.
“Like when Gru says ‘I’m disappointed in you’ and we cry for three hours?” Stuart asked. “Exactly.”
2. Superpower: Resilience
Life knocks everyone down. Warriors get back up. Not because it’s easy—but because they’re trained for it.
“Like Rocky?” Kevin asked. “Yes, but with fewer stairs.”
Minion’s Takeaway:
Create a Bounce-Back List. Three things that help you reset: go for a walk, call a friend, dance to your favorite song (even if it’s just the Minions’ version of ‘YMCA’).
3. Superpower: Mindset Mastery
A warrior doesn’t believe every negative thought. Mental health strength means knowing you’re more than your fear, stress, or doubt.
Bob nodded. “We have lots of those.” “Me too,” I said. “That’s why we work on it.”
Minion’s Takeaway :
Try Mindset Rule 2: Respond, Don’t React. When something annoys you, pause. Take a breath. Then decide how to respond.
Bonus points if you don’t throw bananas!
4. Superpower: Purpose
Heroes don’t chase everything. They focus on what matters.
Kevin raised a brow. “Even if it’s not a giant laser?” “Especially if it’s not a giant laser.”
Minion’s Takeaway:
Each morning, say: “Today I choose to be a Mental Health Warrior.” Then do one small thing that supports your mental health—like journaling, meditating, or avoiding that weird raccoon in your alley who gives bad advice.
The Lightbulb Moment
After practicing their Warrior Tools, the Minions looked different—still chaotic, but more grounded. Stuart wasn’t shaking with sugar energy. Bob was journaling about “banana-based boundary issues.” Kevin had made a Warrior Vision Board with pictures of calm lakes, superhero masks, and mental health affirmations.
“I get it now,” Bob said. “Being a Mental Health Warrior isn’t just fixing problems. It’s building the power to face them.”
“And,” Stuart added, “we don’t have to do it alone.” Kevin nodded. “Gru may not hug us, but we have each other. And Bruce.”
Final Training Montage
Before they left, we did a final Warrior montage: deep breathing, positive affirmations, laughter yoga (Tigger would’ve been proud), and a group chant: “Mental Health Is My Superpower!”
They shouted it across the neighborhood. And then Kevin accidentally tripped over a garden gnome and knocked everyone down. We laughed until we cried.
Wrap-Up: You’re the Hero
The Minions came looking for capes and explosions. They left with something stronger:
The courage to feel.
The resilience to rise.
The mindset to move forward.
The connection that makes us stronger together.
That’s what being a Mental Health Warrior is all about!
So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or like you’re losing the plot—take heart.
You don’t need to leap tall buildings. Just take one bold step forward. Embrace your emotions. Use a tool. Ask for help. Because mental health isn’t a side quest, it’s the superpower behind every victory!
Bruce Schutter
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