Why Some Challenges Can’t Be Solved with a Checklist In life, work, and relationships, not all problems are created equal. Some can be solved with enough time, effort, and organization. Others shift under our feet the moment we think we’ve found an answer. Recognizing the difference between complicated, complex, and wicked problems helps us respond […]
Understanding Complicated, Complex, and Wicked Problems Read More »
The VA’s Whole Health model outlines eight domains of health, providing a comprehensive map of human well-being. Integrating these domains into your Eisenhower Matrix helps you prioritize what’s truly important across every area of life—not just work or fitness. Each domain can have activities that fall into any of the four quadrants. The goal isn’t
Organizing Your Self-Care Read More »
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
Trauma leaves marks that are often invisible to others but deeply felt within ourselves. One of the most profound ways it shows up is in how we see and value ourselves. When esteem is shaken, our confidence, sense of worth, and belief in our abilities all begin to erode. For veterans, first responders, and anyone
Themes of Impact: Esteem Read More »
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 »
What It Really Means and How I’m Learning to Stay Put I’ve noticed something about myself in my post military life: I constantly want to move. It’s not that I dislike Charleston. I love the Lowcountry—the history, the salt air, the winding marshes. It’s home, but there is always something tugging at the edges. There
Always Wanting to Move Read More »
Every pile of papers on the counter.Every box in the garage you’ve been meaning to sort.Every unanswered email in your inbox. They all carry more weight than they appear. On the surface, it looks like clutter — stuff that simply needs to be organized. But underneath, each stack, drawer, or folder represents dozens, maybe hundreds,
The Tyranny of Unmade Decisions Read More »
Our minds don’t process the world in raw, unfiltered form. Instead, we rely on schemas—mental frameworks built from our experiences, values, and lessons learned—to quickly interpret information and decide what matters. Think of schemas like a water filter. A good filter removes harmful impurities and leaves you with something clear, usable, and safe. But if
Schemas: Our Thought Filtration System Read More »
