Ep. 37: Travis Mills - The secret to flipping victimhood & pain into purpose & power in your life.
It's an honor to welcome Travis Mills to our podcast today. Both Tricia and I have had the opportunity to know Travis and to hear him speak, and like everyone who has met Travis, we are better for it.
Travis woke up on his 25th birthday as a triple amputee. After 19 months at Walter Reed, he vowed to never give up.
Today he is an inspiration to the world. In this podcast, Travis teaches us how to move away from victimhood and be responsible for our attitudes about life and also what it means to be a good leader. He teaches us, ““I'm not a victim and neither are you.” The film, Travis: A Soldier’s Story and his New York Times best seller Tough As They Come, bring this powerful vision to life.
Travis has become the quintessential empowered role model, teaching us now to stand up from the sidelines and step in to our life’s purpose. He is writing a new book on leadership, hosting 126 families a year at his foundation and is contemplating a reality show.
He tells us about his secrets on how to be a leader, shares his daily routines, and h life with children. He also shares his story of how his fear of a lifelong dose of pain medicines guided him toward an experimental five day ketamine coma which helped reset his brain and body limb map and allows him to be medication free and pain free today.
Travis reminds us how to heal on this podcast, “In any situation, I'm in control of how I feel. I'm in control of my attitude and it's up to me how I want to go about getting better”.
More From Travis Mills
Official Website: www.travismills.org
Podcast: The Travis Mills Podcast
Book: Tough As They Come by Travis Mills
Travis Mills Foundation Website: https://travismillsfoundation.org
Travis Film: Travis: A Soldier’s Story
Facebook @ssgtravismills @travismillsfoundation
Instagram @ssgtravismills @travismillsfoundation
Twitter @ssgtravismills
Linkedin @ssgtravismills
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Show Notes
[01:01] [07:18] I'm never gonna give up and I'm never gonna quit.
[08:05] Fellow soldiers would say about you that you're the strongest willed person they know, that you're always happy, and that you are a fearless leader.
[08:25] I think it was confidence and pride. Also knowing that someone else did it in front of me, knowing that my wife's not going to leave, and that I'm going to do my best to get better because they are here -- my daughter is still my daughter, I'm still her father. There was nothing I could do about it. So I learned instead of dwelling on the past I just might as well reminisce and push forward. And that in any situation I'm in control of how I feel I'm in control of my attitude and it's up to me how I want to go about getting better.
[09:09] I had a ketamine coma and the coma was new age - I was the second the nation to ever have it.
[09:33] Ketamine is this horse tranquilizer style drug. They used it to reset my brain to think where my nerves end is where they actually end - because they're in such bad pain and I thought I'd either get so immune to the drugs that I would overdose and die or be in chronic pain the rest my life. Like I said, it's second the nation and 30th in the world. They gave me 600 milligrams an hour for five days.
[11:40] It's not just helping me talk about everything with everybody but it's also helping the other people in the audience get better and keep thriving on life and to know that life can always get better so I always keep pushing to better yourself and be there in the present instead of really being down on yourself when you're talking.
[13:58] You know I've always been told in my military career that a leader always gives purpose and direction but also I learned very quickly that a leader is never afraid or unwilling to do a task that they ask someone to do. For me it's always about going the extra mile making sure my guys are always a first. I always help with filling sandbags the jobs that you didn't want to do that you thought you outgrew because you no longer private. I still did.
[14:22] When it comes down to being a leader I just try to always put the best example out there and make sure that I'm a role model for not only my children but also people around me that are whether they're older or younger.
[14:43] I'm not A victim and neither are you.
[14:49] I found purpose and direction to get through my struggles or my situation.
[15:00] I'm going to make sure it's fun and make sure it's upbeat and positive (his new book). But I'm also going to give a little kick in the behind saying you know it's on you as well to get better it's on you to believe in yourself it's on you to make sure that you can keep going and pushing forward.
[15:47] And granted yes I was laying in bed with no arms no leg under 10 pounds lighter than I started but I'm not wounded anymore.
[16:04] At the same time I want people to know that hey I'm thriving and I'm just grateful that I have the ability to go around and speak and give my message.
[16:22] I'm Travis, I'm a recalibrated warrior. I'm just here to hang out and have a good time and we'll get through life stuff together.
[16:59] How I stay happy is I eat Philly cheesesteak every now and then I cheat and I sneak those.
[17:46] I did cross fit and then my trainer left and right now I'm talking with another trainer and I'm going to start probably when I get back my next trip and I might start working out with him.
[18:05] I have a shake in the morning and fresh fruit and then I like feeling good so I try to drop some pounds since beach season is coming I want to be pretty.
[18:20] Oh that's the greatest thing, actually fatherhood is the best part of my day.
[20:08] Because this happened doesn't mean that you're alone and that you have to live life on the sidelines.
[20:24] And now we can host eight families per week that have been through some kind of injuries sustained from combat or service.
[20:53] We hosted 88 families last year from over twenty three different states. This year we will hose 126 families. We opened it up two weeks ago and we've almost all the all the slots filled.
[23:34] Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid.
Thank you for joining us on HealthGig. We loved having you with us. We hope you'll tune in again next week. In the meantime, be sure to like and subscribe to this podcast, and follow us on healthgigpod.com.
“There was nothing I could do about it. So I learned instead of dwelling on the past I just might as well reminisce and push forward. And that in any situation I'm in control of how I feel I'm in control of my attitude and it's up to me how I want to go about getting better.” Travis Mills
“Life can always get better”. Travis Mills
“A leader always gives purpose and direction but also I learned very quickly that a leader is never afraid or unwilling to do a task that they ask someone to do.” Travis Mills
“When it comes down to being a leader I just try to always put the best example out there and make sure that I'm a role model for not only my children but also people around me that are whether they're older or younger.” Travis Mills
“I'm not A victim and neither are you.” Travis Mills
“I found purpose and direction to get through my struggles or my situation. It's on you to believe in yourself it's on you to make sure that you can keep going and pushing forward.” Travis Mills
Keywords
#A Soldier’s Story #Ketamine Coma #Walter Reed #Elizabeth Arden Estate #self empowerment #Tough as they Get #recalibrated soldier #veteran #Saginaw #Flint #MySpace #Walter Reed