Operation: Dream Big

I’ve fallen into this trap so many times throughout my life. It’s something I know a lot of you—especially my fellow veterans—can relate to.

You’re facing challenges that feel too big to tackle. So, you reach for the easy things that make you feel good.

I’m talking about those times you sit down and read motivational books over and over, hoping for that magic moment of insight. You listen to motivational content all day long, and sure, it pumps you up for a while. You try meditation, breath work, goal setting—anything that promises to give you the edge.

But at the end of the day, something’s still missing. You aren’t taking action.

That’s the self-development trap. I was stuck in it for years.

The pain of being stuck is real. You feel like you’re moving, but in reality, you’re just spinning your wheels. It’s frustrating, disheartening, and all too common. Especially for us veterans. We’re used to taking orders, following a plan, executing. But when life after service presents challenges, it’s easy to fall into the trap of endless preparation with no action.

But here’s what I finally learned: Life is broken up into two parts. The first part is preparation, and that should only be about 20% of your day. Things like working out, meditating, reading, and setting goals are important, but they’re not where success is made.

The second part—the one that really matters—is action.

And no, it doesn’t have to be massive action like Tony Robbins talks about. It can be small, micro steps that feel so easy and effortless that you can do them all day long.

By the time you’re done, those small steps have added up to a massive accomplishment.

This is what the military taught us. We just forgot.

If you can set up a good plan and take consistent action—even if it’s small—you will succeed. It’s about taking those steps, no matter how tiny, and building momentum. That’s how you change your life.

So to my fellow veterans, I’ll leave you with this: Fall back on your training. Modify it for the life you’re living now. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about moving forward, one step at a time.

You’ve got this.

I didn’t know what true wealth was until I almost lost it all.

I used to think getting rich would fix everything.

After getting out of the military, I struggled with addiction and my mental health.

I was obsessed with being successful, thinking money would solve my problems.

I recently shared this on a podcast for veterans.

They asked how my family supported me through all this.

I thought about it and realized, they didn’t…because I wouldn’t let them.

I isolated myself, put up a front, acted like everything was fine.

I became an emotional robot, not really knowing my wife or kids.

Everything changed the day I hit rock bottom with my video game addiction.

I had to make some hard choices and changes.

One of them was sitting down with my wife, therapist, and kids, and talking about my pain, struggles, and the support I needed.

As a veteran, being taught to open up and be vulnerable was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

But because I did that, my relationships with my wife and kids got so much better.

I felt like I finally had a place in my family, instead of just being a placeholder.

To any veterans reading this, understand that there are people around you who desperately want to help.

We tend to sit in feelings of being misunderstood and isolate ourselves, but that only leads to becoming a statistic.

Share your story, give people the opportunity to help you.

I’m truly grateful for the love of my wife and kids.

I might not even be here if it wasn’t for them.

I used to believe the hype. As a veteran transitioning back to civilian life and a recovering addict, I was desperate for anything that promised better health, more energy, and mental clarity. My solution? Supplements. Lots of them.

I spent thousands of dollars over eighteen months, convinced each pill was a step towards peak performance. My cabinet overflowed with bottles, each promising the strength and vitality I craved. It was a reflection of my life at the time—constantly searching for something more to fill the gaps in my finances, business, health, and relationships.

But it wasn’t working. Despite all the pills, I felt empty, always missing something. My ADHD, sadness, and low energy persisted.

Then, something simple changed everything. During a routine walk in nature, surrounded by trees and the sound of a creek, a realization hit me. The natural world around me thrived without any artificial enhancements. These trees and animals were achieving their purpose with what they’d had for generations. Why was I, a human just as much a part of this earth, loading up on supplements?

In the military, we had structure and clear paths to success. Life seemed simpler, and fulfillment was within a prescribed set of boundaries. Now, lost in the civilian world, I was trying to recreate that feeling with supplements.

I want to share a powerful lesson from this journey: Sometimes, the answers aren’t in a pill. They’re in reconnecting with our fundamental human needs—purpose, simplicity, and the natural world.

If you’re standing where I once did, looking at a cabinet full of hopes bottled up in supplements, maybe it’s time to step back. Reevaluate. You might just find that the best version of yourself doesn’t come from a bottle, but from rediscovering your purpose and embracing life’s simplicity.

To anyone struggling like I was, know that sometimes, stripping back to basics is where you’ll find your true strength.

Behind the Screen: The Hidden Battle

Sometimes, games were more than just games to me. They were a refuge from a storm inside. Life threw curveballs – feelings of anxiety, loneliness, and stress that I didn’t know how to handle. So, I turned to video games. They weren't just hobbies; they were where I hid from the world.

In every game, I found a world where I could forget the pain. Whether it was feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities or dealing with the heaviness of my thoughts, in these virtual worlds, I felt in control, powerful, and free from those burdens.

Even when my family needed me, I was often in another world, battling fictional enemies instead of facing the real ones within me. With a controller in my hand, the dim glow of the screen was my comfort zone, where the complexities of emotions and life couldn’t reach me.

I’m sharing this not just to tell my story, but to reach out to anyone who's found themselves lost in something to avoid dealing with the hard stuff inside. You're not alone in this. If this resonates with you, let’s open up and support each other.

Being Emotionally Invincible Sucked… Here’s Why

I chose to make myself that way for such a long time.

so long that those locked away emotions created pain and pressure.

Reverse butterfly feelings in my stomach 24/7, panic attacks overthinking the smallest things(Anxiety).

I hid behind the falsity that if I could achieve enough success, sacrificing the time and connection with my wife and kids would all be worth it for me and them.

I was clueless to the fact that they didn’t care about success, they cared about me.

The lonelines and guilt of putting them on the back burner became too much to bear and I had zero clues why.

Rather than searching for a solution I found a “FIX”.

I would get lost mentally playing Video games at all waking hours.

Spending thousands of dollars on games and subscriptions.

To be honest it took me numerous years to acknowledge the addiction and begin to repair the damage I did.

It didn’t have to be that way though

Emotional Vulnerability probably would have stopped the cycle of pain before it began.

Now my past mess is a lesson and message for you.

Shed the facade and listen to what messages your emotions are giving you.

Yea it’s a painful road in the beginning

That pain however will be yours alone and allow you to spare those you care about the most.

Safe Community can help make that step more bearable.

If you need one head over to the link in my bio and subscribe to my youtube.

A Gentle Reminder from a Nature Walk

I was out on my usual nature walk today.

Just me, the trails, and my thoughts.

Then it hit me.

A powerful reminder I had to share.

Especially for my fellow veterans.

We're wired for selfless service.

But often, we forget the most crucial person - ourselves.

I've been there, lost in serving family, career, everything else.

Neglecting myself.

Running from what's inside.

Until life felt like a burden.

Depression. Anxiety. An endless cycle.

Then I learned something vital.

Self-care isn't selfish. It's necessary.

So, here's my message:

Take care of yourself first.

But there's more.

And this might be even more important.

Check on your brothers and sisters.

A simple DM. A text.

Just asking, "How are you doing?"

But don't stop there.

Ask again, "No, how are you really doing?"

Because often, we need that second ask.

To open up. To share the load.

I've seen the difference it makes.

We're battling a silent crisis.

A high su***de rate among veterans.

It's a call for compassion. For connection.

So, I urge you:

Check on your fellow veterans.

And if you're not one,

this is how you can truly support us.

Ask. Listen. Be there.

Because sometimes, sharing the load can save a life.

Signing off from my nature walk.

But the journey of care and connection continues.

P.S. Doesn't have to be Veterans Day to use this reminder.

Getting unstuck used to be about finding the right answer whenever a challenge showed up.

Tackling the ability to focus with the ADHD was one of those times. I’d just reached a point where I found it impossible to move anything in life forward simply because I couldn’t stick with a single task long enough.

The answer I thought was : caffeine, energy pills, nootropics, mushrooms. Whatever promised focus I tried it asking the question what’s the best supplement or prescription to help wrangle my ADHD.

They ALL had me feeling like crap or numb or both. After spending lots of money and time trying all these methods I realized I was asking the wrong question(What’s the best Pill?). Instead I asked what’s the best method for me.

I dived into BREATHWORK then meditation then nutrition until I took my ADHD and turned it from a Learning Disability into a superpower.

Proof is me sitting down to write this post🤣