When we leave the military, we often talk about “finding purpose” on the other side of service. It’s true that the military gave us a sense of purpose, but it also gave us something else—clear tasks and standards. Every day was framed by missions, training, checklists, and expectations. The clarity was built in. Civilian life […]
Beyond Service: Finding Tasks, Purpose, and Standards After the Military Read More »
Using CBT and DBT to Guard Against Influence and Manipulation What Is Cognitive Warfare? Cognitive warfare refers to deliberate efforts by state and non-state actors to influence the way people think, perceive reality, and make decisions. Unlike traditional warfare, which focuses on physical force, cognitive warfare targets the mind itself. It operates through propaganda, disinformation
There’s a Zen teaching that says: how you do anything is how you do everything. At first glance it sounds like a slogan for productivity. But its roots go much deeper. It speaks to the spirit we bring into each action, no matter how small, and how that spirit shapes the whole of our lives.
How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything Read More »
Trauma doesn’t just disrupt how we feel or think—it shakes the very ground of how we relate to power and control. For many veterans and first responders, power and control were once cornerstones of their identity: the ability to command, to respond decisively under pressure, to protect others in the midst of chaos. Trauma can
Themes of Impact: Power and Control Read More »
Trauma doesn’t just live inside the individual—it echoes outward into the way we connect with others. One of the most consistent themes of trauma is its impact on relationships, shaping how we bond, trust, and respond to those closest to us. When trauma disrupts the nervous system, it can create survival-driven behaviors that interfere with
Themes of Impact: Relationships Read More »
Imagine meeting your future self five or ten years from now. Picture them standing across from you: a little older, a little wiser. Would they thank you for the choices you’re making today, or would they wish you had shown up differently? This powerful question, “How can Current Me help Future Me?”, isn’t about guilt
Turning the Ship: How Current You Can Help Future You? Read More »
When people think about wellness, they often focus on sleep, nutrition, or exercise. But one of the most overlooked pillars of total wellness is your social connections. At Tactics Total Wellness, we view strong relationships as a critical asset — just like physical fitness or mental sharpness. Strong Social connections are the result of intentionally
SOP: Social Connections Read More »
Sadness can be like a yellow traffic light letting us know that we need to slow down or stop. Just like a new driver learning the rules of the road, we need to spend some time understanding sadness so it can be a useful tool instead of a confusing signal. If we understand how sadness
Exploring Emotions: Sadness Read More »
In our house we avoided assigning chores and instead focused on teaching our kids to be responsible for their fair share of the work as a “duty.” We can also try to frame our responsibility to develop self control as a duty we owe to ourselves and to those around us. Self-control can be defined
The Responsibility of Self-Control Read More »
One of the keys to living the life we want to live is learning to master our emotions. The goal isn’t to minimize or repress them, that’s a dangerous path that leads to suffering. What we should aim to do is understand them so we can benefit from their positive effects and mitigate their harmful
Exploring Emotions: Anger Read More »
