Two aspects of the discussion during Tactical Fitness Report 246 that resonated with me were his focus on the spiritual side of the Four Pillars of Wellness for the Tactical Service: Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual, and his discussion of Eye Movement Desensitizing and Reprocessing EMDR Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS).
My first question to Dan: “What exactly does the spiritual wellness pillar mean?”
Dan: Spiritual wellness/resilience and the daily practice are the foundation for this. It's a foundation for tactical professional service. The practice of spiritual wellness is your capacity to love to be helpful, to be useful, to be driven by your heart with compassion, to make a meaningful difference. You can consistently do as much good as possible in every moment with every mission or call for service. You can consistently affirm the good that's within you through your decisions. You can have a higher purpose in these noble professions that is beyond your self-interest. You can selflessly serve with heart-centered, compassionate service to be connected to the noble purpose of protecting life, serving people, alleviating suffering, and being the good amidst all the bad that happens around and to us every day.
We serve with and depend upon for our own life and well-being, connected to the community in positive and meaningful ways. And you can also consistently self-improve. So, all of that involves spiritual wellness. Now, some people may have a faith practice that adds to that. My faith practice has brought me tremendous inner peace, purpose, and service, but that doesn't have to be it. It's serving with your heart. The number one lesson I learned more than anything else in 30 years in law enforcement, and it's true with any tactical profession, is that this truly is a vocation of the heart. When you think about what we do, we're serving our country/community, protecting life, and helping people who can't help themselves. That's the vocation of the heart. If you're not putting your heart into this job every day to do as much good as possible, the job will likely eat you alive. And it is the absolute truth, and that serving in that way with that purpose that higher purpose beyond self does more for us to understand the nature of the traumas we deal with and make sense out of things to maintain our inspiration and our motivation and purpose to do this job and to be fully vested. So it becomes a profession that gives our lives fulfillment, meaning, peace, and purpose.
What is Your Why?
Stew: I often tell people preparing to serve that they must figure out their WHY. Why are you doing this? And you have that nailed down very well, not only with why you chose to serve but also with why you continue to serve. That last statement you made answered a great question of why people do this. You need to know WHY.
Dan: Absolutely. I always like to “say compassion is the DNA of service” because it empowers the good you can do. If you're serving without compassion, you're just serving yourself. That leads to frustration, helplessness, a lot of stress, disappointment, and on and on, and adverse outcomes.. However, selfless giving of yourself is the secret to living and serving, and it is in our giving, and how you can give of yourself of your heart in a meaningful way to make a difference in your agency, with your colleagues, and to help people in need.
You can find out more about Dan Willis at https://www.firstponderwwellness.com.
Dan: My email is also available for anyone who has a question and wants to contact me. The best way is for those in charge who want to bring me to their agency for training is to use my email as well. You can get a copy of Bulletproof Spirit through my site or Amazon.
About EMDR Therapy - If you have or have not experienced trauma, you should know about this form of treatment.
Dan: EMDR is quite helpful for single event trauma that helps unwrap tied emotions to the event. I noticed a difference in three sessions, and after six sessions, I felt like a different person; I felt like a weight had been removed from my chest.” He continues, “I do EMDR sessions now like I do dental and medical check-up visits (1-2 times a year).”
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR is designed to help individuals process and heal from distressing memories and experiences. There are eight phases: 1) History and Treatment Planning, 2) Preparation, 3) Assessment, 4) Desensitization, 5) Installation, 6) Body Scan, 7) Closure, and 8) Reevaluation. For those with severe trauma, EMDR may involve ongoing treatment, including weekly sessions that can last for months or even years.
EMDR employs distinct eye movements designed to help process traumatic memories. The aim is to support recovery from specific traumas or distressing life experiences. These eye movements assist in trauma processing by engaging both hemispheres of the brain. This bilateral activation is believed to aid the brain in reprocessing and integrating traumatic memories within the broader memory network, potentially reducing their emotional intensity. Study on the Validity of EMDR.
Veterans seeking an EMDR therapist can visit their local VA medical center or clinic. Many of these facilities employ trained mental health specialists who offer EMDR therapy for PTSD and trauma-related issues. Additionally, the EMDR International Association provides a list of certified therapists.
If you are a civilian and have never served, you can easily find EMDR-certified therapists nearby using Google. Additionally, Psychology Today has a therapist locator on its website that narrows your search to your zip code.
There is More to StewSmithFitness.com Than You May Know
Who is Stew Smith? Coach, Trainer, Author, Podcaster?
I'm the former Navy SEAL that special ops candidates go to for books, ebooks and online coaching to prepare themselves to get to and through intense tactical assessment and selection programs and qualify for service in their chosen tactical profession. See More at StewSmithFitness.com
Quick Summary:
- FREE Fitness / Mindset Articles and Workouts - Latest info on training for any goal! (over 1000)
- eBooks, Books and eBooks in PRINT (over 40 options)
- Spec Ops Swim Critiques on social media - YouTube, TikTok, Instagram
- Live QA / CSS Critiques Mon / Tues 9am (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram)
- Podcasts (over 200)
- Stew Smith Fitness APPs - Triad version, Pushup Push APP, Pullup Push APP, FBI workout APP
- FREE Navy SEAL Exercises Apps - iPhone, Android
- Membership Site - Get access to 100s of week of training programs and unpublished workouts we are currently doing each week. Constantly updated weekly with new articles, videos, and workouts of the week.
- Tactical Fitness Course - 80 minutes to learn how to get both TO and THROUGH spec ops selection programs.
- Online Coaching - Get personalized programming designed for your goals, abilities, time per day, days per week, equipment/facilities...etc.
Dive deeper into Tactical Athlete training and mental toughness by exploring Stew Smith Fitness Programming for the Tactical Athlete online store. Uncover the strategies and techniques elite forces use to push past physical and mental barriers. Visit https://www.stewsmithfitness.com now and equip yourself with the tools for success for many special ops-level selection programs in the military and police world.
Where to Find More Information About Optimal Performance Training Programs
When you start training again, consider the seasonal tactical fitness model. I call it a way to train, but it's not the only way. It offers a process and system that are different from other programs. We focus on never neglecting your weaknesses, helping with flexibility and mobility, and elevating your physical abilities to a level where you feel satisfied with your overall capacity for just about anything. We have a system where the seasons dictate our training. When it's nice outside, we run and do more calisthenics. When it's colder and less pleasant, we lift more, run less, and still maintain our outdoor activities with shorter runs and rucks. Check it out: Seasonal Tactical Fitness Periodization System.
These Seasonal Tactical Fitness Periodization
programs (and other options) will walk you through each year's season and build a body with NO weaknesses.
Books and eBooks Available (All Levels of Fitness)
The Specific Military / Special Ops Physical Fitness Workouts
Navy SEAL Workout Phase 1
Navy SEAL Workout Phase 2 - 3
Navy SEAL Workout Phase 4 Grinder PT
Navy SWCC Workout
Army PFT Workout (Prep For Rucking, OPAT, ACFT)
Army Special Forces / Ranger Workout
Army Air Assault School Workout
Army Airborne Workout
Advanced Running Program - Special Ops Supplement Plan
USMC RECON / MarSOC Workout
USMC OCS / TBS Workout
USMC IST and PFT
The Combat Conditioning Workout
Air Force PJ / CCT Workout Battlefield Airman Prep Course
The UBRR Upper Body Round Robin Workout / Spec Ops version
The Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer / Navy SAR Workout
The Service Academy Workout (West Point, Navy, Air Force Academy)
The Navy, Air Force, Marine Corp Boot Camp Workout
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The Law Enforcement Physical Fitness Workouts
The FBI Academy Workout | FBI Workout Vol 2
The DEA Workout
The FLETC Workout - Ace the PEB
The PFT Bible: Pushups, Sit-ups, 1.5 Mile Run
The Fire Fighter Workout - Ace the CPAT
List of Beginner, Intermediate, and Basic Military & PT Test Prep Guides
Beginner / Intermediate Fitness Guides
The Beginner / Intermediate Guide to Fitness
Reclaim Your Life Erin O'Neill Story (beginner / intermediate)
Veterans Fitness Baby Boomer and a Flat Stomach
Circuit Training 101 Beginner / Intermediate Guide to the Gym
The Busy Executive Workout Routine
NEW: Calisthenics and Cardio (only) (Spring / Summer Cycle)
Tactical Fitness (40+) Phase 1, Phase 2
Online Coaching Options
Online PT CLUB - Premium Coaching -
Do you need a program that actually works for you? We can build it personally for you and your personal goals and help you fit it into your day with the equipment you have available. Let us be your training partner and coach.
Many people ask me what is the difference between the Premium Program and the Online PT CLUB Coaching. The people on either program receive personalized training from me - Stew Smith - to best fit your abilities, goals, time per day, days per week, facilities, and equipment. We communicate regularly about your progress and your feedback helps me create the next week plan for you. There is no template workout and see you later. These programs are created 1 week at a time with YOU and ME in communication to figure out how best to create the next week.
Tactical Fitness Course - Getting TO the training does not guarantee you get THROUGH the training. Learn about the two phases of tactical fitness you need to develop thoroughly before getting to BUDS. Check out the Online Course - Getting TO and THROUGH Special Ops Selection.
Member's Only Content / Services Program!
If you want access to years worth of workouts, favorite workouts of the week, free fitness APP, closed Facebook Group, video / picture library of exercises, and more access to LIVE Q/A sessions check out the Stew Smith Fitness Members Section.
The dashboard below has the links to all the information, archives, videos, and links to workouts, podcasts, live Q and A lessons.
Consider this! - A Membership Program and Gain Access to Exclusive Content
(click for Fitness Club Dashboard - members only)