Written by: Rob Cook, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
It would start just like any other interview. Usually, I'm introduced as a veteran, and most people love when I share stories to highlight the heroism of military members. I was telling a story about each Airman being issued a rucksack, also known as a backpack or a ruck. Mainly to store and carry the essential items needed for their mission, such as food, cold weather gear, and toiletries. The rucksack had multiple supportive functions and contained critical items needed to survive. I was describing the strong attachment between a soldier and a ruck. Then recounting the strict rules that apply around rucksacks, for instance, pack your own ruck; never open another person's ruck without permission; lastly, once you leave the secure zone, never, and I mean, never drop your ruck." I'd shared the story before, but one of the rules didn't land the same in my mind for some reason. Sure, the first two were fair and logical, but I finally realized the last rule wasn't valid. I tried to ignore it to continue, but it wouldn't go away.
"Worrying carries tomorrow's load with today's strength- two days at once. Worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength." ‒ Unknown
As I continued to explain, the most intriguing feature of the rucksack is the quick-release strap. You pull, and the pack immediately disconnects, falling to the ground. As a young Airman, I never questioned why? It seemed apparent, given the "never drop your ruck" conditioning and the rucksack packed with all the essential items I needed to survive. Why would anyone ever need to drop their ruck? During my first deployment to the Middle East, I soon learned why we needed the quick-release strap. I'd experienced a danger so clear and present I knew that holding on to my ruck would have slowed me down and complicated my ability to make it to safety.
This story sparked something new. And just like that! Boom, an insight. It was the first time I saw my rucksack as a metaphor for my life. Just as I allowed the military culture to make dropping my ruck be perceived as weak, not a warrior,or incapable of carrying my weight as a unit member, I had packed and carried my rucksack with biases, misconceptions, and judgments in the same way. I needed to bear the ruck's weight because it symbolized I was strong. News Flash to me that neither was true.
I'd been carrying the load for so long that I couldn't remember when my bag became my baggage. When did my container to hold essentials become a weight that slowed me down? The load of my past experiences caused pain in my relationships, problems in my finances, and troubles in my career. I was so attached to the idea that dropping my ruck was a sign of weakness that I allowed the baggage to hold me back from having the life I deserved. Dropping my ruck was not a sign of weakness. It took courage to let go of the baggage that weighed me down. Exploring this insight further, I saw how the inside-out understanding known as The Three Principles allowed me to move forward.
When dropped, I felt weightlessness and freedom, allowing me to respond to moments significantly better. My relationships became vibrant again, and I began to enjoy life more.
Here's what I mean. Mind is the Universal Intelligence behind all life and is the safest space to explore, dropping your ruck. Here's why – Mind reminds us daily, if we notice, that we're made from the same powerful energy source. So that means we do not need to carry our baggage for protection. And actually, holding onto any baggage slows down and dims that power inside of us. My consciousness was my awareness of recognizing the baggage. Whether past experiences, limiting beliefs, negative self-talk, thoughts, and memories are invisible, they cannot hurt you unless you permit them. Once recognized, my next step became apparent, and the thought arrived—pull the quick-release straps and reclaim your life. Shedding baggage may seem difficult or impossible, but it's not. Practicing self-care, being present, eating healthy, resting well, and moving as often as possible boost the releasing process. Imagine feeling as light and agile as ever. Able to respond to anything life throws at you. Imagine living as freely as you've let yourself live.
Dropping your ruck taps into the strength and resilience needed to reclaim your life.
Rob Cook, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Rob is a highly respected coach and consultant who inspires self-care, healing and building meaningful lives. He is the founder of Life After Trauma which focuses on finding the balance between mental, physical, and spiritual health to alleviate the adverse effects of trauma-related events. Rob is a retired combat veteran turned transformative coach using the Three Principles, also known as the inside-out understanding, as his guide to help clients overcome traumatic experiences. Rob is an engaging and passionate speaker and consultant who works with start-ups, non-profits, and Fortune 500 companies.
