It was just another day running errands—drop off some mail, maybe grab a diet coke—and head home to work on my Mental Health Warrior Program. But as I turned the corner to the post office, I noticed something unusual. Parked right there, next to the usual sea of cars, was a spaceship. And not just any spaceship, but the one and only USS Sulaco from the Aliens movies. Intrigued and somewhat bewildered, I walked over, only to find Ellen Ripley herself standing in line, waiting to register her ship with the state of Pennsylvania. Even intergalactic heroes, it seems, aren’t immune to bureaucracy.
As it turned out, the paperwork was going to take some time, so we struck up a conversation. Naturally, we started talking about our work. She, of course, had a few thrilling stories about battling xenomorphs. I shared with her the insights behind the Mental Health Warrior Program and my book, “20 Truths about Mental Health that Everyone Needs to Hear.” Each truth serves as a guiding principle, emphasizing that mental health impacts every aspect of our lives. The book offers five actionable steps for each truth, aimed at strengthening mental health and helping us overcome life’s obstacles.
She was particularly intrigued when I discussed Truth 2: “Embrace the Full Spectrum of Emotions to Get the Full Life Experience.” Here’s how our conversation unfolded and how Truth 2 helped Ripley deal with the challenges of fighting aliens and how we can apply these lessons in our own lives.
Lesson 1: Embrace All Emotions—Even the Scary Ones
Ripley leaned against the counter, waiting for her number to be called, and nodded thoughtfully as I explained the importance of embracing all emotions. “You know, fighting aliens wasn’t just about guns and flamethrowers,” she said. “It was about facing fear—head-on. I had to embrace that fear, let it course through me, and use it to stay sharp.
Fear kept me alive; it heightened my senses and made me more aware of everything around me.”
How You Can Use This Lesson:
Just like Ripley embraced her fear instead of running from it, we can do the same with our emotions. It’s easy to think of negative emotions as something to avoid, but in reality, they can be powerful tools for growth. When you allow yourself to fully feel emotions like fear, anger, or sadness, you can better understand them and use them to your advantage. Whether you’re dealing with stress at work or a personal crisis, acknowledging and embracing your emotions can give you the clarity you need to navigate difficult situations.
Lesson 2: Learn from Your Negative Emotions
Ripley shared another story, this time about the gut-wrenching loss of her crew members and how that grief fueled her determination. “Losing my friends was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to deal with,” she admitted. “But that grief gave me a purpose. It reminded me of what was at stake and kept me going when things got tough.
Every time I felt like giving up, I remembered them, and that pushed me forward.”
How You Can Use This Lesson:
Negative emotions like grief or sadness are not weaknesses. Instead of trying to bury them, let them inform your actions. If you’ve experienced loss, use that emotion as a driving force to honor the memory of what you’ve lost by moving forward with purpose. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, a job, or even a dream, allow the emotions to propel you toward something positive.
Lesson 3: Balance Positive and Negative Emotions for a Full Life Experience
Finally, Ripley spoke about the joy she found in small victories. “Not every day was about survival. There were moments when we found something to laugh about or when we felt relief after a close call. Those moments were just as important as the tough ones. They reminded us that we were still alive, still human.”
How You Can Use This Lesson:
Life is about balance. Embracing both the highs and the lows will give you a richer, more fulfilling experience. Celebrate your wins, no matter how small, and allow yourself to feel the joy that comes with them. This joy will give you the strength to face the next challenge. Remember, it’s not about avoiding pain or chasing constant happiness; it’s about experiencing everything life has to offer and growing from it.
Applying Ripley’s Lessons in Your Life
As Mental Health Warriors, we’re constantly navigating the full spectrum of emotions. Whether you're battling your own "aliens" like anxiety, depression, or past trauma, the key is to embrace all emotions. This acceptance is the first step toward building resilience and gaining control over your mental health.
Acknowledge Your Emotions: The next time you feel overwhelmed by fear or sadness, take a moment to acknowledge it. Don’t push it away. Sit with it, understand it, and then decide how you can use that emotion to move forward.
Learn from Negativity: Reflect on a recent negative experience and identify what it taught you. How can you apply this lesson in the future? Use your emotions as a guide to make better decisions and build a stronger, more resilient version of yourself.
Balance Your Emotions: Celebrate your successes, no matter how small. Find joy in the little things, even when life gets tough. This balance is essential for living a full life and maintaining mental health.
The Final Countdown
As Ripley finally got her paperwork sorted, she turned to me and smiled. “You know, Bruce, fighting aliens is a lot like fighting our inner demons. The battles might be different, but the tools are the same. Embrace your emotions, learn from them, and keep moving forward. That’s how you not only survive, but that’s how you live!”
So, the next time life throws you into the deep end, remember Ellen Ripley’s advice: embrace the full spectrum of emotions. It's not about being unbreakable; it's about being resilient, learning from every experience, and fighting the good fight, Mental Health Warrior. You’ve got this!
Bruce Schutter
(Creator of the Mental Health Warrior Program and Challenge Coin)
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