Finding Identity and Purpose After Leaving the Military with Garret Biss

07/03/24 • 67 min

Download "10 Military Habits That Are Sabotaging Your Career... and Your Life"

Today’s guest is Garret Biss, a retired Marine Corps Pilot, addiction recovery coach, and TEDx Speaker. After retiring in 2015, Garret faced anxiety, depression, and displacement, turning to alcohol until suicidal ideation spurred change. Mentoring helped him overcome addiction, rediscover his identity, and reignite his passion for life. He co-founded an addiction recovery residence, created a recovery program based on positive psychology, and developed ValiantPathTM️, specifically for veterans. Garret will share his journey, work with veterans, and the role of coaching in mental health.

Summary

Garret Biss, a veteran and coach, shares his journey of personal development and helping other veterans reconnect with themselves. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the root causes of pain and addressing them, rather than relying on substances or behaviors as coping mechanisms. Garret highlights the difference between coaching and therapy, with coaching focusing on leveraging existing strengths to create positive outcomes. He also emphasizes the need for self-compassion and self-worth, as well as the importance of surrounding oneself with compassionate and supportive individuals. The conversation explores the challenges of transitioning out of the military and finding a new sense of purpose. The transition from military service can be traumatic, as veterans lose the connection, positive identity, and sense of meaning that the military provided. Many veterans struggle with mental health challenges, addiction, and a deflated self-worth. It is important to recognize the emotional, mental, and spiritual consequences of this transition and provide support to veterans. Personal development and self-improvement are crucial in rebuilding a better version of oneself and finding a sense of purpose and fulfillment in civilian life.

Takeaways

Understanding the root causes of pain and addressing them is crucial for personal growth and healing.
Coaching focuses on leveraging existing strengths to create positive outcomes, while therapy often focuses on diagnosing and treating mental health challenges.
Self-compassion and self-worth are essential for personal growth and overcoming challenges.
Surrounding oneself with compassionate and supportive individuals can greatly aid in the healing process.
Transitioning out of the military can be challenging, and finding a new sense of purpose is important for veterans. The transition from military service can be traumatic, as veterans lose the connection, positive identity, and sense of meaning that the military provided.
Many veterans struggle with mental health challenges, addiction, and a deflated self-worth.
It is important to recognize the emotional, mental, and spiritual consequences of this transition and provide support to veterans.
Personal development and self-improvement are crucial in rebuilding a better version of oneself and finding a sense of purpose and fulfillment in civilian life.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
01:00 Garret's Work with Veterans
06:05 The Importance of Continuing the Journey of Recovery
08:10 Garret's Personal Journey and Purpose
11:30 Transitioning from the Military
13:56 The First Day Out of the Military
21:19 Taking Steps Towards Recovery
25:07 Pouring Ourselves into Work
28:02 The Importance of Personal Development
33:08 Garret's Experience with Addiction
36:20 The Importance of Support and Tools in Recovery
39:14 Recognizing Self-Worth and Moving Beyond Pain
41:12 Compassion and Self-Compassion in the Recovery Process
44:28 Moving from Toughness to Tenderness
47:34 Accepting Love and Developing Self-Love
52:37 Taking Ownership and Creating Meaning
01:01:35 The Challenges of Maintaining Sobriety and Mental Well-being
01:03:30 Supporting Veterans in Their Recovery Journey

Links

Website: https://garretbiss.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GarretBissFan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garretbiss/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbbiss/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivingrecovery

Download "10 Military Habits That Are Sabotaging Your Career... and Your Life"

Summary

Takeaways

Understanding the root causes of pain and addressing them is crucial for personal growth and healing.
Coaching focuses on leveraging existing strengths to create positive outcomes, while therapy often focuses on diagnosing and treating mental health challenges.
Self-compassion and self-worth are essential for personal growth and overcoming challenges.
Surrounding oneself with compassionate and supportive individuals can greatly aid in the healing process.
Transitioning out of the military can be challenging, and finding a new sense of purpose is important for veterans. The transition from military service can be traumatic, as veterans lose the connection, positive identity, and sense of meaning that the military provided.
Many veterans struggle with mental health challenges, addiction, and a deflated self-worth.
It is important to recognize the emotional, mental, and spiritual consequences of this transition and provide support to veterans.
Personal development and self-improvement are crucial in rebuilding a better version of oneself and finding a sense of purpose and fulfillment in civilian life.

Chapters

Links

Previous Episode

What Running Across Australia Taught A Veteran About Healing with Will Burnett

Download "10 Military Habits That Are Sabotaging Your Career... and Your Life"

Our guest today is Will Burnett, a decorated veteran, father of four, loving husband, and a dedicated practitioner in healing. With 10 years of hands-on and theoretical experience in biology, psychology, psychotherapy, and behavioral science, Will has made a global impact in trauma healing and achieved multiple Guinness World Records in ultra-marathon running.

He will share insights on his journey from the Australian military to civilian life, the challenges of transitioning, and his groundbreaking work in wearable technology that reads emotions in real-time.

Summary

The conversation covers Will's journey from the Australian military to civilian life, including his struggles, self-discovery, and the transformative experiences that led to his decision to run across Australia. It delves into themes of hardship, self-discovery, healing, and personal growth, highlighting the impact of military life and the challenges of transitioning to civilian life. William Trubridge shares his journey from military service to entrepreneurship, including the challenges and lessons learned. He discusses the development of a wearable technology that reads emotions in real time and its potential impact on mental health care. The conversation emphasizes the importance of emotional awareness and the power of effective communication.

Takeaways

The journey from military life to civilian life involves struggles, self-discovery, and healing.
Hardship and challenges can be transformed into opportunities for personal growth and resilience.
The decision to run across Australia was a transformative experience that symbolized healing and self-discovery.
The conversation highlights the impact of military life on personal identity and the challenges of transitioning to civilian life. The journey from military service to entrepreneurship involves challenges and lessons that shape personal and professional growth.
The development of wearable technology that reads emotions in real time has the potential to revolutionize mental health care and emotional awareness.
Effective communication and emotional awareness are key to creating meaningful work and life experiences.
Asking for help when needed and effectively communicating emotions can be empowering and lead to positive outcomes.

Chapters

00:00 Struggles and Self-Discovery
27:56 Healing and Transformation
42:47 Navigating the Journey: From Military Service to Entrepreneurship
53:47 Revolutionizing Mental Health Care with Wearable Technology
01:16:31 The Power of Emotional Awareness and Effective Communication

Links:
The Mind Mechanic: https://www.themindmechanic.org/

Next Episode

Feminine Power, Military Roots with Christy Campbell

Download "10 Military Habits That Are Sabotaging Your Career... and Your Life"

Today’s guest is Christy Campbell, founder of Fitme Nutrition and co-founder of Coaching Biz Manager. Christy, a Navy veteran, has spent the last decade helping people build strong, healthy bodies through coaching and fitness. She is passionate about personal development and mentorship. Christy has spoken at Microsoft, Real Coaches Summit, and the Nutrition Coaching Institute, and hosts the Fitme Coffee Talk Podcast. She will share her journey from the Navy to becoming a fitness coach and entrepreneur, discussing the impact of military programming on relationships and the importance of being present with emotions. Before we dive in, we have a new cohort of veterans starting The Mission After mentorship program. Head over to themissionafter.org to join the waitlist and join us this July for a 90 day program that will help you establish a solid foundation for your identity, relationships, and of course discover your next mission and execute.

Summary

Christy shares her journey from the Navy to becoming a fitness coach and entrepreneur. She discusses the impact of programming received in the military and how it affected her relationships and emotional well-being. She explores the balance between the masculine and feminine energies and the importance of being present with emotions. Christy also highlights the need for resilience and the ability to feel and transform emotions in a healthy way. The conversation explores the concepts of the feminine and masculine energies and their roles in our lives. The feminine is associated with matter, intuition, flow, and being present in the moment, while the masculine is associated with pattern, structure, vision, and future-oriented thinking. Both energies are important and should be balanced for progress and fulfillment. The conversation also touches on the importance of creativity, intuition, and play in personal growth and business success. The use of heart medicine and the exploration of the feminine have led to shifts in perspective and a deeper connection with oneself and others. In this final part of the conversation, Mike and Christy discuss the idea of feeling more and how entheogenic and psychedelic medicine can help confront and move through emotions. They also talk about their experiences with alcohol and how their perspectives on drinking have changed over time. They touch on the normalization of certain behaviors in the military and the impact of cultural differences when traveling. They also draw parallels between their experiences in jiu-jitsu and the importance of finding ease and flow in movement.

Takeaways

The programming received in the military can impact relationships and emotional well-being.
Coping mechanisms developed in the military may not serve well in civilian life.
True emotional resilience involves being present with emotions and transforming them in a healthy way.
Exploring and embracing the feminine energy can lead to a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Finding a balance between the masculine and feminine energies is important for personal growth and relationships. Both the feminine and masculine energies are important and should be balanced for progress and fulfillment.
Creativity, intuition, and play are essential for personal growth and business success.
Heart medicine and exploring the feminine can lead to shifts in perspective and a deeper connection with oneself and others. Entheogenic and psychedelic medicine can create scenarios where you confront and move through emotions in a space where you can handle it and even enjoy it.
Alcohol can be used as a way to numb emotions, but entheogenic medicine can help you confront and move through the issues that you were trying to avoid.
The military can normalize certain behaviors, such as heavy drinking, but it's important to recognize the impact of these behaviors and how they may affect your well-being.
Traveling to different countries can provide opportunities to reflect on cultural differences and gain a deeper understanding of the human experience.
In jiu-jitsu, there is a balance between strength and ease, and learning to move with ease and flow can be more effective than using force.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
08:28 The Impact of Military Programming
23:40 Embracing Emotional Resilience
30:26 Exploring the Balance Between Masculine and Feminine Energies
35:19 Finding Balance for Personal Growth and Fulfillment
43:55 The Importance of Creativity and Intuition
56:51 The Shifts and Connections Through Heart Medicine
01:06:50 Confronting and Moving Through Emotions
01:09:02 The Impact of Cultural Differences and Normaliza...