Do your actions match your values?

Most people would claim they value their mental and physical health, their relationships with their family, and quality time with their kids. However, despite...

Why did you become a first responder?

When I joined the Canadian Forces in 2006, I was driven by a desire to serve. I was somewhat aware of the global issues after 9/11 and wanted to do my part for...

Regain Control of Your Life by Choosing the Pain You Experience:

Sometimes life forces you on a painful path through trauma, mental illness, or loss. You feel out of control of your life and it can...

Losing my wife to cancer was a devastating experience. In the days after she passed, I knew I faced a long journey to learn how to thrive again, and self-care would be crucial to healing. As a...

You exercise to stay fit for duty, but what do you do to stay mentally fit?

I’ve been training for an ultramarathon later this summer. It’s a grueling 50-kilometer race through the...

When was the last time you took a break? I'm not referring to a day off work or a quick pause between the hectic parts of your day. I mean a break that's entirely for you—time to let go of...

Why Avoidance Is the Enemy in Trauma Recovery

I used to have a dog. Like most dogs, it preferred our backyard for its bathroom activities. Although I usually stayed on top of cleaning up, for...

You’ve probably heard of the importance of purpose before, but have you really thought about how to leverage it in your life? Harnessing the power of purpose can help you achieve your goals,...

Stress is Neither Good nor Bad – Until You Label It

Have you ever considered that your biggest challenge in managing stress is not the stress itself but how you perceive it?

Years ago, I...

Have you ever noticed that when you purchase a new (to you) vehicle, you start to see how many of the same cars are driving around?  It’s not that your vehicle suddenly became...

I would argue that there isn’t a first responder out there who would intentionally want to alienate and belittle those who struggle with their mental health. However, what if...

This article is for anyone struggling with the effects of PTSD or those of you who are supporting someone who is experiencing it. You may have heard of the term Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG), but do...