:: Waging War on PTSD: Objective

I realize it may sound a bit counter productive to use war principles for healing an anxiety disorder, but allow me the opportunity over the next few weeks to expand this thought and see if this might apply to you or someone you know that might be working to rid their life of this disorder.  This week we look at the principle of Objective.

In the civilian world, you may sometimes hear them referred to as goals.  We know that goal setting is one of the most fundamental undertakings when we consider future success. We know that top-level athletes, successful business leaders and achievers use this technique to stimulate short-term motivation and help in maintaining long term vision.  The intent is to bring focus to your life's directions.  With a slight twist, I like to call these Objectives, based on my studies of the Principles of War.  I think you will agree that this principle serves the healing process of PTSD very well.  Read on:

What's the difference?

First, I think it is important to draw a distinction between goals and Objectives, because they require two entirely different mindsets.  By definition, a goal is a "dream with a deadline."  It is something you would like to have or achieve in the future.  Granted the old saying of "if you aim at nothing, you're guaranteed to hit it every time" definitely applies to goal setting.  Personally, I think a more appropriate quote for goal setting is "How do you eat an elephant?" The answer is of course, one bite at a time.  If you view the elephant as one giant goal that your whole life depends on, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Why not enjoy the bites along the way?  Granted, it is nice to have a direction when you are attempting a competitive event or working in your career.   Additionally, linking a desire to a date creates a certain sense of urgency.  This can even create a certain level of healthy stress which makes the goal seem more important.  The short coming of goals, in dealing with PTSD, is that they can sometimes be well intentioned, but much too overwhelming to approach; just like eating an elephant.

An Objective, in this warrior's mind, is entirely different.  Objective by it's very name is a Principle of War.  In Field Manual 3.0, the U.S. Army uses the following definition of the first Principle of War (which reads just as Clausewitz penned it hundreds of years ago). "Direct every military operation toward a clearly definable, attainable, and decisive objective."  These words are specifically chosen to describe the principle Objective, as ALL 3 of the stated criteria must be present to accurately set the conditions for success.  In dealing with PTSD, I think we can all agree that we would like to have those 3 criteria stated when we chart our healing course.  To ensure you have them all, I suggest using the DAD test.  

The DAD test

As a former tactics instructor, (and as Warrior Life Coach today) I would ask my students (clients) if their Objectives passed the DAD test.  The DAD test basically asks was the Objective Definable or could you tell me exactly what, where, and when you must accomplish this assignment?  Was it Attainable, meaning did you really have a chance at accomplishing this, based on your training and resources?  Finally, and most importantly, would the accomplishment of this Objective be Decisive, or simply put would it make a difference or create a resolution/impact to your undertaking?  This subtle scrutiny makes all the difference in how you approach your healing journey, as a goal would be rather vague and an Objective would become much more concrete.  Additionally, it would require you to break your healing journey down into smaller, more definable, attainable, and decisive steps.  By making your steps smaller, you enhance success and provide yourself with an additional level of positive reinforcement through the body's natural reward molecule; dopamine.  This builds confidence, keeps you on track, and keeps you moving forward as you heal.  When our self-induced goals are overwhelming from the start, it is no wonder that the healing process seems so slow and difficult at times.

Take Away

When setting Objectives for yourself, try to use the DAD test.  This level of commitment creates smaller and more tangible connections to your healing process.  The areas in life that I coach are: Love, Health, Wealth, and Self-Image.  If you were to set your mind to achieving more in these 4 Objectives, can you think of the decisiveness you would bring to your battle with PTSD?