#0015 - Jon Macaskill - Bring Mindfulness to the Fight

Summary In this episode, former Navy SEAL Jon Macaskill discusses his experience in Operation Red Wings and the impact it had on his career and mental health. He shares how he dealt with survivor's guilt and moral injury, and how mindfulness and meditation saved his life. John emphasizes the importance of opening up about mental health and building a supportive community. He also discusses the challenges faced by first responders and the need for mental fitness in society. The conversation covers various topics related to mindfulness, mental health, and work-life balance. We'll explore themes such as podcasting, the impact of screen time on mental health, challenges and objections to mindfulness, the relationship between mindfulness and faith, the importance of downtime and decompression, the need for breaks and time blocking, playing offense with your calendar, and the fallacy of long work hours. We'll also discuss the challenges of getting into public speaking, the journey into speaking, and the future of Men Talking Mindfulness. Show Links Get 1-month of FREE access to the ⁠Vet Collective Community⁠ by using discount code: NLT1UQTI Join us here: ⁠⁠https://www.collective.vet⁠⁠ Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.collective.vet⁠⁠ Follow us on LinkedIn: ⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/harder-not-smarter/ Episodes also available on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon Music. Jon's Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmacaskill/ ⁠https://frogmanmindfulness.com/⁠⁠Unleashing Inner Strength Book⁠⁠Men Talking Mindfulness Podcast⁠ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:55 Impact of Operation Red Wings 05:11 Dealing with Mental Health 07:17 Opening Up and Building a Supportive Community 09:26 Changing the Stigma Around Mental Health 12:26 Challenges Faced by First Responders 23:24 Approaching Mindfulness in Different Settings 29:15 Addressing Mental Health in Men 32:03 Working as a Duo in Podcasting 36:18 Scottish Heritage and Podcasting Experience 37:15 LinkedIn Top Voice and Screen Time 41:04 Challenges and Objections to Mindfulness 43:05 Mindfulness and Faith 44:08 The Importance of Downtime and Decompression 46:22 The Impact of Screen Time on Mental Health 49:10 The Need for Breaks and Time Blocking 52:27 Playing Offense with Your Calendar 55:31 The Negative Effects of Constant Connectivity 56:48 The Fallacy of Long Work Hours 57:33 Incentivizing People in Organizations 58:04 The 40-Hour Work Week and Benefits 59:09 Societal Standards and Non-Compensation Reasons 59:45 The Broken Healthcare System 01:00:57 Not Wanting to Be Involved in Politics 01:01:23 The Challenges of Getting into Speaking 01:02:43 The Journey into Speaking 01:05:09 The Process of Getting into Speaking 01:06:07 The Future of Men Talking Mindfulness Takeaways Survivor's guilt and moral injury can have a significant impact on mental health. Mindfulness and meditation can be powerful tools for healing and improving mental health. Opening up about mental health and building a supportive community is crucial for veterans and first responders. Addressing mental health should be a priority in society, and mental fitness should be promoted proactively. Working in a duo in podcasting can bring different perspectives and create engaging conversations. Mindfulness can strengthen one's faith and provide emotional hygiene. Constant screen time can lead to stress and burnout. Taking breaks and scheduling downtime is essential for mental well-being. Mindfulness and meditation can be practiced by people of all faiths. Working long hours does not necessarily equate to productivity. Incentivize people in organizations to make them feel like they're contributing, not just being used as a metric mover. Question the 40-hour work week and the connection between full-time work and benefits. Understand the challenges of getting into speaking. Embrace the journey of personal and professional growth in the speaking industry.