Earnest D Smith Jr did over 8 years of mental therapy, after being medically wounded by the invisible scars of war. Upon integration back into society, he bounced around from job to job like a pinball to replace the passion he felt while he served his country. His passion has been re-ignited and he is on a mission to ensure that 22 Veterans a day commit to living, because many are losing the war within.
Earnest (CPT Retired) is a native-born Floridian with Caribbean heritage from St. Kitts. He graduated from West Point and went on to serve in the military for 7 years. While in the military, he deployed twice to Iraq and his last assignment was commanding a 114 Soldiers and 3 Civilian unit company that provided secure satellite communications for the President of the United States and Joint Chief of Staffs.
He has been married to his wife, whom he met in the 6th grade, for 14 years and has 3 kids and a Bichon Friese which we dig into in this amazing conversation. Sit back and get ready for a raw and deeply moving interview with coach Chris Wilson and our guest and good friend Earnest.
“The demons were in the basement working out and they flexed and it took me out… back home, not at war. Peace is what took me out.” -Earnest Smith
Time Stamps
0:24 – Welcome to the ‘Strong by Design’ podcast
3:14 – Get to know Earnest Smith and his mission to prevent veteran suicide
7:14 – Earnest shares his deep love for Batman and how it inspired his mission
13:57 – Earnest opens up about his struggles with mental health
19:15 – Battling the invisible scars of war
22:43 – Earnest on dealing with psychological pain
27:44 – The importance of focusing on what you can control
33:37 – Setting boundaries: What is it and why is it important
40:09 – The cost of bottling up your emotions
45:09 – The language of emotions
48:13 – The power of taking action
50:36 – Growth mindset: How your thoughts control your life
53:54 – The importance of having a support system
1:00:04 – How to treat each day as a bonus
1:05:52 – Surviving a mental health crisis: The importance of asking for help
1:13:33 – Where you can go to connect with Earnest
1:19:50 – Discover Earnest’s ‘L.I.F.T.’
Resources
Connect w/ Earnest:
- Direct Email: [email protected]
Connect w/ CriticalBench:
