A story about turning inner battles into growth, where healing comes through honesty, connection, and finding meaning beyond the chaos within.

In the Marines, I learned that discipline doesn’t just keep me alive, it keeps me centered when chaos hits. I didn’t quit because it hurt or felt unfair. I adapted, refocused, and marched forward.   That same principle applies in emotional healing. In counseling, I often meet veterans who survived combat but now face a different kind of enemy, their own untrained emotions. They’ve been taught to endure, not to feel. But emotional resilience requires both strength and surrende

In Vietnam, the sound of helicopters meant two things: help was on the way, or someone was leaving. It was the sound of both relief and loss. That sound still echoes inside me when I hear someone talk about waiting for rescue, emotionally, not physically.   Years later, as a counselor, I’ve heard that same tremor in the voices of veterans sitting across from me. Their war is no longer fought on the battlefield, but in memories, nightmares, and emotions that ambush them when l

Later in life, I learned that true strength isn’t about domination, it’s about discipline. Self-control is the most effective and efficient way to gain control in any situation.   In leadership, I’ve seen gifted people lose influence because they couldn’t manage frustration. I’ve also seen quiet, steady leaders gain deep respect simply by staying grounded when everyone else lost their cool. That’s when I began practicing what I call power under control, the ability to respond

Years ago, my mentor George told me, “Jerry, leaders don’t have to have the loudest voice; they need the calmest presence.”   At that time, I was quick to react when things went wrong. A missed deadline, a sharp word, or a broken promise could ignite my emotions. Then I learned one of the most powerful tools of emotional intelligence: to respond, not to react.   Taking the time to think about a response does not show weakness; it’s wisdom. It’s the space between stimulus and

I remember a day when everything seemed to go wrong: a client complaint, a team misunderstanding, and a family issue all hit at once. My emotions felt like a thunderstorm with no shelter in sight. I wanted to lash out and shut down. Then I remembered something I often tell my clients:   “You can’t stop the storm, but you can choose where you stand in it.”   That’s where self-regulation begins, the ability to guide my emotions instead of being ruled by them. I went for a short

In the Marines, I learned to give orders. In corporate leadership, I had to unlearn that habit. Early in my management career, I believed authority earned respect. Instead, it created distance. My team complied, but they didn’t connect. I was operating from my ego and pride rather than seeking what was best for the team.   One day, a junior engineer said, “You’re one of the smartest guys here, but we don’t always feel heard.” That hit me hard. I realized that leadership witho