No Surrender: The Mental Health Warrior’s Rallying Cry & Lessons from John Wick
- Bruce Schutter
- Mar 16
- 6 min read
Yesterday was supposed to be just another ordinary day. I was going about my usual routine, walking through town, when who do I bump into but the man himself—John Wick. Yes, that John Wick.
The guy who’s taken down armies of assassins with nothing but sheer determination and a pencil. But today, something was different. Instead of his usual determined stare, John looked... well, almost defeated.
“John?” I said, half-expecting him to pull out his famous pencil. But instead, he nodded, his face tired. “Bruce,” he rasped, “I’ve been fighting all my life, and now it feels like the battle never ends. Sometimes, I think I’m just surviving. Not really living.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. Here was a man who faced death daily, but now he was talking about mental health. “John,” I replied, “I get it. I’ve been there too. Surviving isn’t enough—we need to live. That’s what being a Mental Health Warrior is all about.”
He raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. So, I dove into my own story and how the rallying cry of a Mental Health Warrior is No Surrender!
My Journey: From Surrender to Warrior
I shared with John my 20-year battle with Bipolar Disorder, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders, and PTSD, stemming from my time as an EMT with the local rescue squad. After college, I transitioned into the Information Technology field, but the pressures of the job, combined with my mental health struggles, made life feel unbearable. Every day felt like a fight, and I wasn’t sure I had the strength to keep going.
“I was stuck in survival mode, merely getting through each day while my mental health challenges controlled my life. Eventually, I felt so powerless that I tried to end it all,” I said, noticing the deep understanding in John’s eyes.
John nodded thoughtfully. “I’ve been there,” he admitted. “It feels like every day is a fight, and no matter how much you push, the struggle keeps coming.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” I replied. “But here’s the thing—I realized that surrender wasn’t an option. I had to make a choice: either let my mental health challenges control me, or Take Back Control and Start Living Again!”
John’s eyes lit up with curiosity. “So how did you do it?”
The Mental Health Warrior Program: No Surrender
“That’s when I created the Mental Health Warrior Program,” I explained. “It’s a new SELF-HELP approach designed to empower us to manage our emotions, overcome challenges and build the life we really want!
The rallying cry of the program is simple: No Surrender! No matter how hard it gets, we don’t give up. We face our challenges head-on.”
I could see the wheels turning in John’s mind. He wasn’t used to letting anything, even emotions, slow him down. But being a Mental Health Warrior isn’t about ignoring the struggle—it’s about embracing the fight and refusing to back down.
“Look,” I continued, “I know it’s tough. My bipolar disorder still hits me with random waves of depression, and my anxiety hasn’t vanished. But the difference now is that I don’t let those things dictate my life. I’ve built tools to manage and triumph over them.”
I leaned forward. “Every day, we make a choice: I don’t surrender—and neither should you!" And here are 3 Lessons we can apply daily, to keep moving forward.
Lesson 1: Embrace the Battle, Don’t Run from It
“The first thing I realized,” I continued, “was that avoiding my emotions and challenges only made things worse. I had to learn to embrace them. As Mental Health Warriors, we don’t run from the fight—we face it head-on, using tools and mindset shifts to take control of the situation.”
When anxiety or other challenges hit me now, I don’t drown them with alcohol or chase short-term fixes that offer no real progress. Instead, I acknowledge what I’m feeling and use it as a signal to grab a tool from my Mental Health Warrior toolkit. I take action.”
Embracing the battle has made that first step powerful. It has helped me move forward instead of staying stuck in the struggle.
John’s Takeaway:
John looked thoughtful, clearly reflecting on his lifelong battles. “I’ve spent my whole life running from the pain of losing my wife, and it’s haunted me ever since. I threw myself into every fight, hoping to escape the emotions, but they only grew stronger.”
I nodded. “Exactly, John. When we run, emotions only get louder. But if we stand our ground and face them, they become manageable. The trick is to stop seeing emotions as the enemy and start recognizing them as signals.”
John paused, letting it sink in. “So, next time I feel that overwhelming grief or anger, I won’t push it down. Instead, I’ll acknowledge it and use it to focus during a mission, rather than letting it control me.”
“Exactly,” I said. “You’re the one in charge!”
Lesson 2: Build Resilience By Staying in the Fight
“The second lesson,” I told John, “is that resilience isn’t about never falling—it’s about refusing to stay down. Mental health challenges can hit hard, making it feel like you’ll never get back up. But as a Mental Health Warrior, you rise. And every time you do, you come back stronger.”
I leaned in. “Think about it—strength isn’t built in comfort. It’s built in the struggle, in the moments when you want to quit but keep pushing forward anyway. The more you fight through, the more unshakable you become.”
John’s Takeaway:
John clenched his jaw, clearly resonating with the idea. “I’ve been knocked down a lot, Bruce. Every time I think I’m out, something pulls me back in. But maybe I’ve been looking at it all wrong. Maybe the real strength isn’t in avoiding the fall—it’s in getting back up.”
“That’s exactly it,” I replied. “True resilience isn’t about never struggling. It’s about refusing to surrender, no matter how many times you fall. You don’t have to win every battle—but staying in the fight makes you stronger every day.”
Lesson 3: You Choose the Direction
“The third lesson,” I continued, “is that we get to choose the direction of our lives. Mental health challenges can make you feel trapped, like there’s no way out. But as a Mental Health Warrior, you decide what your fight looks like. You can take your life in any direction—as long as you don’t surrender to your challenges!”
John leaned in, intrigued. “So it’s not about avoiding the fight, but choosing the right one?”
“Exactly. For years, I avoided everything—social situations because of anxiety, talking about my emotions because of PTSD. I let fear dictate my choices. But once I realized I was in control, I stopped running, started choosing the battles that mattered, and set a new direction for my life.”
John’s Takeaway:
John sat quietly for a moment, deep in thought. “In my world, it’s all about survival. Every fight feels like a fight for my life, and it’s exhausting. But if I get to choose the fight, I can focus on what really matters—like finding peace. Maybe even helping others who are struggling.”
I smiled. “Now you’re thinking like a Mental Health Warrior. You don’t have to fight every battle that comes your way. Focus on what’s most important to you and let the rest go.”
John chuckled—a rare sound from him. “You know, Bruce, I think I can do that. I’ve been fighting for survival for so long that I forgot I could fight for something bigger. I’m not ready to surrender.”
“Good,” I said with a grin. “Because the rallying cry of a Mental Health Warrior is: No Surrender!””
Wrapping It Up
As our conversation came to a close, John stood up, his posture stronger, his eyes sharper. “No Surrender,” he repeated, almost to himself, letting the words sink in. Then he nodded. “I like the empowerment of being a Mental Health Warrior.”
I met his gaze. “That’s right. No matter what you’re up against—mental health struggles, life’s challenges, or the unexpected battles—you don’t back down. You face them head-on.”
Because whether you’re John Wick or someone fighting to reclaim your life, the message is the same: No Surrender!
That’s the rallying cry of the Mental Health Warrior. It’s not just a motto—it’s a mindset. It’s how we take back control, one battle at a time.
Bruce Schutter
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