In this powerful episode of the Unseen Journey, the  conversation gets more personal. The hosts share more of their individual journeys, and the impact of Operation Red Wings Foundation has made on them. The unseen struggles Veterans face and the importance of peer support become clear as they share candid moments of vulnerability, exploring the transitions from personal healing to helping others. The transformative power of self-work and the journey towards emotional healing is part of every veteran story. Don’t miss this conversation that brings personal struggles to the forefront, validates emotions, and illuminates the process of personal growth.

Key Points:

• Peer Support and Unseen Struggles (00:01:18 - 00:06:27):
• The pivotal role of mentors and peer support in their wellness journeys.
• Operation Red Wings Foundation's retreats emphasize Veterans supporting Veterans through shared experiences.
• The Power of Processing Emotions (00:10:22 - 00:21:35):
• The importance of processing emotions and doing the internal work.
• Sharing personal experiences of triggers, grief, and the journey of self-discovery.
• Transformative Exercises for Healing (00:24:05 - 00:31:17):
• A powerful exercise involving songs of grief and praise, highlighting the cyclical nature of emotions.
• Reflections on the journey of self-awareness and breaking through the stigma around mental health.
• Embracing Emotional Healing (00:22:36 - 00:26:33):
• Shared personal experiences of emotional healing, emphasizing the importance of doing the internal work.
• Acknowledging the impact of self-reflection, validation, and growth on overall well-being.
• Transformative Exercise: Songs of Grief and Praise (00:27:54 - 00:31:17):
• A powerful exercise from the Compassionate Warrior program involving songs of grief and praise.
• The cyclical nature of emotions is explored, highlighting the importance of feeling and processing both the lows and highs.
• Reflections on Veterans Day (00:43:22 - 00:47:39):
• Sharing personal sentiments about Veterans Day and the challenges faced while working in the Veterans service field.
• Reflecting on the need for community support beyond Veterans Day and the reciprocal relationship between Veterans and society.

Quotable Moments with Timestamps:

• "I'm a huge fan of peer support, which we, you know, is a big part of Operation Red Wings Foundation's retreats. Veterans being there for veterans because people, we understand through our own journeys." (00:01:46)
• "Because you can't see it. It's going to pop up when it chooses to pop up, when you decide to process it." (00:17:55)
• “.. it happened. And that's okay. And we're going to learn and grow from it and make us better for it, right." (00:22:36)

Links:

http://www.ORWFoundation.ORG

The Unseen Journey is proudly brought to you by the Operation Red Wings Foundation.