EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: THE WARRIOR’S EDGE IN THE BATTLE WITHIN
When you squeeze an orange, what comes out?
Orange juice. Always.
Why? Because that’s what’s inside.
Now take that same idea and apply it to yourself.
When you get squeezed—by stress, by conflict, by life—what comes out?
For many of us in the veteran community, we’ve been trained to react quickly, to defend, to strike back. But here’s the hard truth: whatever comes out of you when you’re triggered—anger, insults, blame, silence—is yours. That reaction is not about the other person. It’s about what’s inside you.
This is where emotional intelligence comes in. It’s not a soft skill. It’s not a civilian thing. It’s not about being passive. Emotional intelligence is about mastering the inner battlefield—creating space between your thoughts, your emotions, and your actions. It’s a tactical pause for your soul.
Why Emotional Intelligence Matters for Veterans
In the military, we were taught that reaction time can save lives. But in civilian life, unfiltered reactions can destroy relationships, create division, and deepen wounds that were never properly healed. Emotional intelligence gives us an edge—not just in handling conflict, but in leading ourselves and others with integrity, humility, and strength.
Emotional intelligence helps you:
- Respond instead of react
- Listen instead of defend
- Understand instead of assume
- Heal instead of hurt
It gives you agency over your own story.
The Power of the Pause
Here’s the formula:
Trigger → Thought + Emotion → Space → Response
Without space, our reactions come straight from pain or ego. But with space? We can bring in patience, forgiveness, mercy—even if we’re still angry. That space is where healing begins. That space is where you regain control.
One of the simplest tools to create space is this:
Repeat back what the other person said. Slowly.
Not to be condescending. Not to mock. But to buy yourself time to understand them better—and to give your higher self a chance to show up. That repetition slows things down just enough for clarity to break through the storm.
What’s Inside You?
If what’s inside you is unresolved trauma, rage, resentment—you’re not alone. That’s why Irreverent Warriors exists. We’re not just about hikes, jokes, and camaraderie. We’re about giving each other tools to live well. To show up better—for our families, our communities, and ourselves.
The good news? You can change what comes out of you by changing what’s inside.
You can cultivate patience. You can train forgiveness. You can stockpile grace.
Final Thought
When someone triggers you, it’s not about them. It’s about you.
And you have the power to own that moment.
That’s not weakness. That’s the warrior’s path.
Master the space between the emotion and the reaction.
That’s where your freedom lives.
Irreverent Warriors: Bringing Veterans Together Using Humor and Camaraderie to Improve Mental Health and Prevent Veteran Suicide.
If this message resonated with you, share it with a brother or sister. We’re in this fight together.