Part Four Which Way Is Your Warrior Facing
This is the audio version of my book "Which Way Is Your Warrior Facing-an operational manual for current serving and veterans transitioning into civilian life". These recordings will be of use to veterans, their families, and allied health professionals. In this fourth talk, we begin by looking at the Military versus the Civilian Brain. We will then explore the impacts of the loss of the Tribe and the critical importance of Belonging. We finish off with a look at the need to integrate the Warrior and the Civilian parts of you.
Transcript
Hi,
I'm Barry Zworesteen and this is part four of Which Way is Your Warrior Facing?
An operational manual for current serving and veterans transitioning into civilian life.
Today we're going to just finish off the last talk by looking at the military versus the civilian brain.
There are roughly two modes in which the military brain will operate.
Ambush,
Which is alert,
Aggressive and reactive,
Or the OP,
Which is calm and observing.
There is a flow-through between the two territories in the veteran brain.
Even under situations of extreme threat and reaction,
There is the ability to remain calm,
Aware,
Focused,
And react with directed aggression.
This mode is perfectly designed and appropriate to operational functionality.
The potential challenges only arise within the civilian environment where that constant state of alert,
Hypervigilance and the behaviors that go with it,
While driving in restaurants,
Busy shopping centers and at home,
Can have a negative impact on both the veteran and those around them.
It's like having an app constantly running in the back of your brain.
Watch an animal eating quietly in the wild.
Their constant,
Watchful alertness and body tension is no different to the veteran,
Even in moments of apparent relaxation.
This state is even more challenging for those currently serving and moving between the two territories of being on operations and time out at home.
Remember that the military brain does not change or adjust to a transition to civilian territory.
It maintains the same wiring.
Civilian territory is just another operational zone,
But potentially more complex and hazardous for the military brain because focused reactivity is not an option.
There is often little understanding of this in the civilian world,
Where there is an expectation that a uniform change should equal a change in the brain.
Therefore,
It is not surprising that veterans walk into many ambushes on arriving in or returning to civilian worlds.
Tragically,
This lack of understanding can lead to pathologizing,
Highly adaptable and trained behavior.
Yes,
Both sides need adjustment and adaptations,
But to label the individual is a significant concern.
Learning new job skills is essential for the veteran or current serving,
But these will not rewire the brain.
Where appropriate,
Help is often required to create more adaptable wiring to navigate effectively through the new territory.
The brain will not simply just change.
Old wiring appropriate to one situation will not automatically rewire to the new situation.
It will take time.
Support also must be given within the military that allows the use of neuroscience as well as brain and body based modalities that begin the process of rewiring.
Therefore,
This complex transition takes time and is the shared responsibility of all.
So just a summary with some short,
Sharp and easy to remember points.
1.
There are roughly two modes in which the military brain will operate.
Ambush,
Which is alert,
Aggressive and reactive,
Or OP,
Which is calm and observing.
2.
Remember that the military brain does not change or adjust to a transition to civilian territory.
It maintains the same wiring.
3.
Civilian territory is just another operational zone,
But potentially more complex and hazardous for the military brain because focused reactivity is not an option.
4.
Therefore,
This complex transition takes time and is the shared responsibility of all.
I now want to talk about loss of tribe.
Tribe is at the core of military life.
It defines individuals through the close connection to each other.
Who I am is an extension of who we are.
Shared meanings,
Values,
Language and experience allow a framework of connection.
In the military tribe,
We move from selfishness to selflessness.
Core values of dependability,
Reliability and self-sacrifice maintain connection and survivability.
To so many veterans,
Civilian life is a random and unpredictable matrix that focuses more on the individual and the superficial rather than the collective.
They struggle to understand how the territory operates and redefine who they are.
They feel dislocated.
However,
Despite these challenges,
We know that transition can be and is being successfully achieved and tribe in a different way can be accomplished,
But it requires coaching and mentoring and at times healing and counseling.
Another critical thing for veterans is the concept of belonging.
The territory of veteran transitioning could certainly be encapsulated in this word belonging.
I broke this up into a number of parts of this word.
So the first one is the actual word belonging and this is at the core of feeling located in tribe.
So think about your vision around this as you transition out of the military.
In what ways are you being challenged to adjust and adapt as you move into a different tribe and territory?
What is your connection like within your family tribe?
What is your experience,
Feelings and thoughts around the loss of your military tribe?
And again,
Remember you can stop this recording and make a few notes if that'll help.
Point two is I take the word be out of belonging.
For that one,
Think about who and what do you wish to be?
Any visions or plans around reforming who you are?
What impacts this both positively and negatively or in challenging ways?
Taking the word longing,
The question is what do you long for?
What do you yearn for,
Ache for and grieve for?
If we look at the word long,
Creating change internally and externally in the transitioning process takes time,
Patience,
Perseverance,
Discipline,
Trust and effort.
Real change is generally not a short process.
It can meander and wander and at times you may feel lost.
Learn the correct skill sets to navigate effectively.
How do you deal with feeling lost?
What is your patience like?
And five,
I'll take the word in.
Simply reading the books or talking the talk from the edges of the territory is most likely insufficient.
You need to step in,
Get dusty and dirty and do the work one step at a time.
So how are you becoming proactive in creating the change you wish?
How are you with becoming comfortable when experiencing discomfort?
Remember that the challenge of change is to create your own opportunities.
Next,
I'd like to look at integrating the worrier and the civilian.
Draw on your worry attributes.
Remember that you were trained to excel.
Excellence is defined by your willingness to exceed your perceived limitations.
It is achieved by your acceptance and motivation to step out of your comfort zone.
It is maintained by your capacity to process and transform the challenging and often stressful demands on you physically,
Mentally and psychologically.
It is not measured by ranking to others.
This should not define or limit you.
Every success is an invitation to become better.
There are no failures,
Only opportunities to learn and improve.
This is the mindset that will be needed along the transition and process.
The challenge in transitioning from the military to civilian territory is first to identify your skill sets and strengths that can accompany you.
It's not about leaving yourself behind.
Assess the demands and challenges of this new territory.
Consider the adjustments and adaptations that will be required.
Identify new learning and new ways of operating that may not yet be within your circle of influence.
Prepare and practice.
Constantly reassess,
Re-evaluate and adjust.
Teamwork is critical.
At no point should your warrior be left behind.
This part of you forms the core of your values and strengths to support you in transitioning into civilian life.
The wounds that you carry do not define the warrior.
Your work is to call back and integrate these parts of yourself no matter what it takes.
You would have laid down your life to protect a brother.
At all times,
Your focus was not on yourself,
But the safety and well-being of your group.
Reliability and dependability were your core values.
Transitioning into civilian life is about maintaining these core values and learning to direct them towards yourself.
Whatever burdens you may be carrying,
You need to be willing to acknowledge them and deal with them.
You are as important as your brothers around you.
To successfully navigate civilian territory,
You will need to navigate your internal territory.
I'd like to finish off with one statement.
Remember that you have earned the right to carry yourself.
So just to summarize on a short,
Sharp and easy points,
Point one is excellence is defined by your willingness to exceed your perceived limitations.
It is achieved by your acceptance and motivation to step out of your comfort zone.
Point two,
At no point should your warrior be left behind.
This part of you forms the core of your values and strengths to support you as you transition into civilian life.
Point three,
Your work is to call back and integrate these parts of yourself no matter what it takes.
Point four,
To successfully navigate through civilian territory,
You will need to navigate your internal terrain.
And point five,
You've earned the right to carry yourself.
So between now and when you join the next talk,
Think about what skill sets and strengths you can take into your transitioning process.
How do you adjust and adapt to being out of your comfort zone?
Remember,
How you progress forward will be determined by your ability to draw on your operational tracking skills.
Eyes open and watch how you move through your territory.
Adjust and adapt as needed.
