The Process  

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.

Demonstrated results include:
Self-discovery- reconnect the soldier with their core skills, abilities and desires
Improved self-management skills- teach strategies to recognize triggers, manage stress and focus
Amplified self-motivation- guide the soldier to create a personal mission and timeline
Self-esteem- connect with a project, community concern or personal interest that increases sense of self value
Skills and ability to design their future plan – develop a 5 step action plan
• Leave the solider with a sense of satisfaction and well-being –
the individual is more empowered to integrate into
   civilian life


Phase 1 Curriculum

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


Curriculum Content 

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


In this session, we will become familiar with Goal Achievement to assist in reaching your Vision.

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


This session examines how we motivate ourselves and others. Constructive motivation, is seeing the pay-value or personal profitability, and creates energy and excitement. Restrictive motivation is seeing the loss, based on fear, causes us to give up accountability for our actions and place the blame elsewhere.  Inhibitive motivation is where we hold ourselves back due to fear of the consequences of our actions, or our inability to understand our personal power.


Phase 2 Follow up and Mentoring


Mentoring assessment and guidelines (10 steps)

  1. Determine which area(s) of the Balance Wheel  is/are in need of improvement
  2. Determine perceived issue(s):
    1. Help identify potential blind spots (Scotomas) in the decision-making process
    2. Reinforce the focus on their Circle of Influence
  3. Prioritize actions as to immediate and important
  4. For each issue identify the:
    1. Perceived Current Reality
    2. Desired Vision
    3. Pay Value/Threats
    4. Barriers
    5. Behaviors/Habits
    6. Results
    7. Needs not being met
    8. Potential underlying beliefs
  5. Use the Self-Talk Cycle to define comfort zone barriers that are driving performance issues
  6. Begin the Reframing Process of the beliefs to generate the new behaviors and results that are consistent with the Vision
  7. Develop Affirmations that will create the new Self-Talk for the over-all Vision as well as the
  8. Supportive Affirmations for the things to be done in the 5 Step Action Plan
  9. Develop the:
    1. Commitment to action for each specific goal thus opening the RAS to begin the Clustering process (remember to help them “Stuff” the how early on)
    2. Progress Measurements
    3. Result Milestones with dates for each resulting in Action Plan Accountability of Who, will do What, When
  10.  Repeat for each new Issue

 

Facilitator Certification 


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... 


•   Facilitates Sponsor’s exposure to the outstanding qualifications of military 
     personnel.
•   Accelerates Sponsor’s access to a loyal and highly trained talent base.
•   Provides an innovative and unique service stream for transitioning service members 
     within the portfolio of services, strengthening relationships between 
     military organizations and Return With Purpose Sponsor companies.
•   Identifies Sponsors as supporters of America’s military heroes and as employers 
     that recognize their service and sacrifice.
•   Builds military-corporate relationships that add to the Sponsor’s brand identity.
           
For more information about how Return With Purpose can help employers during their onboarding process, please click here.




Participant Comments 

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