STRIKING DOWN STIGMA
Keep on Punching until You Punch a Winner
Welcome to this month’s edition of our Striking Down Stigma newsletter. Each issue is a reminder that change begins with honest conversations and the courage to challenge outdated beliefs. Together, we’re creating a space where understanding replaces judgment, and every voice has room to be heard. Thank you for being part of a community that chooses compassion, curiosity, and progress.
Five Tips on How to Be Heard
1. Speak with intention, not volume
People tune in when your message is focused. Before you talk, take a breath and decide what you truly want to say. Clarity is more powerful than loudness.
2. Use “I” statements to claim your perspective
Phrases like “I feel…,” “I’ve noticed…,” or “I need…” help you express yourself without sounding confrontational. They invite others to listen rather than defend.
3. Match confidence with calm
Steady body language—eye contact, relaxed shoulders, an even pace—signals that your voice matters. Calmness draws attention in a way forcefulness rarely does.
4. Ask for the space you deserve
Sometimes being heard starts with a simple boundary: “I’d like to finish my thought,” or “Can we pause so I can share my perspective?” It’s assertive without being aggressive.
5. Connect your message to shared values
People listen more closely when they feel included. Framing your point around common goals—fairness, respect, safety, progress—helps your voice resonate.
Announcements
Greg Hitchcock is writing his third self-help book, LEARNING FROM STRESS: Tips from the Front Lines, with a publishing date before Christmas, 2026. Stay tuned!
Excerpt: “In EMS, it’s just you and your partner in the ambulance. If that partnership is strained, you’re stuck—alone with your thoughts, replaying the difficult moments over and over without an outlet,” Liz Connolly, the founder and president of the Thin Line Peer Support Team, said. “That mental burden, combined with everyday stressors—raising children, managing relationships, dealing with finances, or caring for aging parents—creates a weight that too often goes unaddressed.”
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Greg Hitchcock was selected for a summer session in graphics by Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle, Maine from Aug. 9-21, 2026.
Instructor Taylor Wright Rushing was born in the South Puget Sound of Washington State. He graduated from the Evergreen State College in 2013 and received an MA and an MFA from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2019. Rushing moved to Atlanta, GA and opened Not Bad Illustration in 2019. Clients include The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, and Willie Nelson.
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Greg Hitchcock will speak at NextGen Women Rise Conference: Inspire. Sustain. Empower. (R.I.S.E) in New York City from July 19-23, 2026. His keynote speech is Chasing Likes Kills Your Voice. Speaking From Truth Makes It Unshakeable.
CONNECT with Greg for business, advice, or just to chat.
greghitch@gmail.com
1-518-921-2970
