The Return With Purpose process is specifically designed to meet the needs of Veterans returning to the workforce and civilian life. This includes Veterans of all eras, transitioning service members and spouses. The process is designed to be the Veteran’s first step in moving from where they feel they are to where they want to be by identifying and removing the barriers holding them back, including:
• Employment challenges
• Family issues
• A lack of a true sense of purpose in what they are doing
• Posttraumatic Stress (PTS)
• Injuries
• Fitting into the current civilian culture
• Finances
The 2 day process is rooted in a cognitive restructuring process designed to give participants the opportunity to change their beliefs, decisions, and behaviors.
1.1 SELF DISCOVERY: YOUR PATH TO THE LIFE YOU WANT
Where you are and why
1.2 IDENTIFY THE BARRIERS TO CHANGING YOUR LIFE
What they are and how to overcome them
1.3 CREATING YOUR VISION
Vision with Purpose
1.4 CHALLENGES TO ACHIEVING YOUR VISION
5 Step Action Plan
1.5 SELF TALK CYCLE AND YOUR PERFORMANCE
The power of my self-talk
1.6 THE REALITY MODEL
Living my purpose
1.7 YOUR TOOL KIT
To build a stronger me
To build my action plan
1.8 THE POWER BEHIND MY WORDS
My word is my honor
1.9 SPECIAL SESSION
Debrief: Why we do, what we do
PHASE 1: YOUR PERSONAL CHANGE PROCESS
1.1 SELF DISCOVERY: YOUR PATH TO THE LIFE YOU WANT
Where you are and why
This session is designed to help you become aware of the ways in which you may have become stuck--as individuals. We will work together to figure out why and to discover what we can do to set a course for positive and lasting change!
We identify Awareness, the first step to change, and address human communication. We stress the importance of Empathy, or being able to see things from another point of view. We discuss our physical and mental limitations, our blind spots (Scotomas) to our awareness, and introduce the Reticular Activating System (RAS), our natural filtering device, and how it functions to filter out unnecessary data and information. We also discuss how ruts can control our decision-making, such as the Cognitive Dissonance Theory- Lock on and Lock out, and incremental change.
1.2 IDENTIFY THE BARRIERS TO CHANGING YOUR LIFE
What they are and how to overcome them
In this session, we will explore some of the major barriers we face as individuals and in organizations, in realizing our goals and visions. When what we are doing isn’t working for us, to look closely at our preconditioned cultural beliefs, our habits, skills, and our individual attitudes can be of great value. Our current habits and skills can become barriers when they no longer fit the changing paradigm. The difference between consistent and inconsistent accomplishment lies with our expectations.
Additionally, we will learn how comfort zones prevent us from making desired changes by keeping us “stuck” in old patterns. We will also discuss how the way we talk to ourselves and what we believe to be true controls our performance, and ultimately, our lives. How we value ourselves and how we perform is determined by our self-image, and our comfort zone that matches the picture we have of ourselves. The higher and more positive our self-image, the broader and more productive comfort zone will we have.
Our self-image is a controlling mechanism. It controls our performance, what we go after, whether we will seek a certain job, etc. As long as we stay where we “belong” we are fine. But the moment we move away we feel uncomfortable, physically and emotionally. Unfortunately, we get the same feedback if things are going too well or are going badly.
1.3 CREATING YOUR VISION
Vision with Purpose
In this session we define vision and current reality, and the gap between the two. An imposed vision produces, at best, malicious compliance, while a Shared Vision with individual contributions will generate a win/win situation where everyone sees the benefits when the vision is accomplished. Personal empowerment is taking action within our circle of influence and eventually expanding it further and further into the circle of concern.
The way in which a vision is created directly impacts the emotions that surround our attempts to make it reality. There are visions imposed upon us without our consent, consideration or involvement. There are also visions that we share, where our input is considered and valued. We will also discuss the Pygmalion Concept. Essentially by seeing and treating people according to their highest potential, we help them become their best.
1.4 CHALLENGES TO ACHIEVING YOUR VISION
5 Step Action Plan
The guidelines you must take to reach your ultimate goal for success by utilizing the balance wheel to help you focus on the big picture of your current reality.
We will cover, path of least resistance, escape routes, the steps to goal achievement and the fact that we are teleological (we set goals based upon the end result or picture that we have in our mind). We also discuss belief without evidence – and how this opens the Reticular Activating System (RAS) and sets in motion the process of Clustering. This allows you to become aware of resources around you that will help you close the gap between your vision and current reality.
1.5 SELF-TALK CYCLE CONTROLS MY PERFORMANCE
The Power of My Self-Talk
In this session we learn about the functions of the conscious, subconscious and creative subconscious aspects of our mind and how the way we talk to ourselves and what we believe to be the truth control our performance. We may then make decisions based on our faulty “truths” that we have stored in our subconscious.
1.6 THE REALITY MODEL
Living My Purpose
In this session, we discuss the Needs Wheel and the five basic human needs. When we break it down, most of our behaviors are ultimately intended to meet one of five basic human needs. If these needs are not met in positive ways, we may work to meet them in ways that may not be in our best interests or those of our teams, families, organizations or communities.
1.7 YOUR TOOL KIT
To build a stronger me
To build my action plan
In this session, we discuss the importance of using affirmations to change principles on our belief window, and the 7 guidelines to follow when writing effective affirmations.
We will also build a five-step action plan which relies on a formula for imprinting affirmations. The subconscious does not know the difference between imagination and reality. Using this formula, you can record the emotions in the subconscious as if you have already accomplished the goal! Finally, we will develop a tool for measuring your efforts to reach your vision.
1.8 THE POWER BEHIND MY WORDS
My Word is My Honor
During this session we will identify where we have encountered positive and negative wizards in our lives, and where we have been positive or negative wizards in the lives of others, by identifying the spirit behind our words.
1.9 SPECIAL SESSION
Debrief: Why we do what we do
Mentoring assessment and guidelines (10 steps)
Return With Purpose offers a facilitator certification.
The process includes participation in a 3 day Return With Purpose workshop followed by 2 days
of facilitator training. Once complete, the facilitator, in training,
will co-facilitate a minimum of one (1) 3 day Return With Purpose workshop and then finally
facilitate a minimum of one (1) 3 day workshop, solo, with a certified
instructor attending the workshop.
In continuing to address the need for Veterans to positively
return to civilian life, Return With Purpose has a long term goal of hiring 50
facilitators around the nation.
Certified
Facilitators deliver the Workshop to:
National Guard Units
Reserve Units
Active Military (TAP)
Veteran’s Organizations
Companies and Corporations
Government Agencies
Colleges and Universities
The Veteran facilitator can offer the workshop as any of the following:
As an employee of the above listed organizations
As an employee of Return With Purpose or Path.Finding Group
As an independent Veteran owned facilitation consulting business
Benefits to Veteran participants
Participation in the Return With Purpose process…
• Experience of Self-Discovery
• Dramatic peer to peer learning experience
• Strong boost of internal focus of control
• Improved self-management skills
• Increased efficacy
• Amplified self-motivation
• Increased accountability
• Expanded creativity
• Greater sense of self-esteem and well being
• New found ability to design their future
Benefits to Corporate Sponsors
Participation in the Return With Purpose process...
“I felt empowered. I felt enlightened."
“ I learned more in the first 8 hours of the class about myself than in 47 years”
“As I struggle with what I want to do upon leaving the military, this process provided me with tools that enabled me to begin to do research about future possibilities, to create some concrete goals, and to shape a vision. This process motivated me to accelerate my search for my future.”
“While going through this process, new ideas were stimulated. I had not even thought about education as a possibility. I was having a hard time visioning a way forward and at times was filled with frustration. Now I can see a way forward.”
“This course can be a significant tool for veterans and their families”
“This course should be given to all incoming Vets, and all deserving Active-duty”
Return With Purpose
905 Dougherty Ferry Road
Kirkwood, MO 63122