Nobody is Coming to Save You: A Green Beret’s Guide to Getting Big Sht Done

Imagine standing in the middle of a storm, the winds howling, debris swirling around you, and yet you stand calm, knowing that this tempest is not just weather but something deeper, something unseen that shapes the very world we live in. This storm is what we call 'The Churn.' It is the relentless force of distraction, disengagement, disconnection, and distrust that sweeps through our lives, leaving confusion and division in its wake. We live in an era where our attention is a precious commodity, yet it is constantly stolen by the barrage of notifications, news alerts, and social media feeds. The average adult's attention span has plummeted from two and a half minutes in 2004 to less than a minute today. This is not mere coincidence but a symptom of The Churn's grip on our minds.

But The Churn is more than just distraction. It breeds disengagement, where people lose their sense of purpose and connection to the world around them. It fractures relationships, creating disconnection not only between individuals but also across communities and nations. And underpinning all of this is a deep distrust—in institutions, in leaders, and even in each other. Polls reveal that over 70% of Americans have lost trust in the federal government and a similar majority distrust one another. In this environment, the Churn thrives, feeding on fear and anger, pushing us into tribal camps that fight not just ideas but each other.

Consider a story of two lifelong friends torn apart by a simple meme about masks during a pandemic, leading to blocked social media connections and silence where once there was laughter and shared memories. This microcosm reflects a macrocosm of a society unraveling, where small sparks ignite vast fires of division. Yet, recognizing The Churn is the first step to breaking free from its trance-like hold.

As we move forward, we will explore how understanding our primal nature, the duality of our brains, and the power of human connection can help us rise above The Churn. We will learn how to lead from rooftops—symbolic high ground where clarity and influence meet—and how to reclaim our attention, purpose, and trust. The journey begins with awareness, knowing that nobody is coming to save us but ourselves.

Now, let us dive deeper into the core of what makes us human, beneath the surface of this storm.