Focus on Human Spirit

Last weekend at the Professional Speaking Association’s annual summit, I witnessed what I can only describe as the most powerful and unforgettable talk I’ve ever experienced. Flight Lieutenant John Peters’ keynote, Tornado Down: Performance Under Pressure, was captivating, haunting and yet delivered with remarkable humour and humility. His story reached deep into the audience’s hearts, reminding us of the extraordinary strength of the human spirit when faced with unimaginable adversity.

In January 1991 during the first Gulf War, John Peters’ Tornado GR1 was shot down over Iraq. Captured and tortured for 47 days, he was beaten, burnt and interrogated for five days straight, brought to the brink of death, and yet somehow found the will to survive. Upon his release, John’s image of his bruised and battered face was broadcast across the world’s media, seen by more than 650 million people. Despite being labelled a hero, John felt like a failure, haunted by the belief that he had not fulfilled his mission.

However, his story is not one of defeat; it is one of courage, purpose and hope. He made a promise to himself: ‘I will not come out a damaged human being.’ Between beatings, John focused on his two-year-old son, determined that no other man would raise him, that was his right as his father. That deep sense of purpose, anchored in love and dignity, became his lifeline.

In closing his keynote, John shared four powerful lessons, captured in the acronym ABCD:

A – Acceptance: name and acknowledge your emotions. Forgive yourself and learn from them rather than live in them.

B – Believe beyond the wall: draw inspiration from Stoic philosophy and focus only on what lies within your control: your thoughts, actions and attitude. He referenced Admiral James Stockdale, the highest-ranking US officer captured during the Vietnam War, who endured over seven years of imprisonment and torture. Stockdale credited the Stoic philosopher Epictetus for providing the mental framework that helped him survive. The Enchiridion, meaning ‘ready at hand’, had been his guide to resilience, reminding himself daily that while others could imprison his body, his mind remained free.

Listening to John, I was reminded of one of the excerpts I included in my book, Focus on Why. It was a quote from Epictetus which my grandfather George Fleming Kerr had copied into his commonplace scrapbook which he had kept while a prisoner of war:

September 6th 1942.

‘But I will put you in prison. Man, what are you saying? You may put my body in prison, but my mind not even Zeus himself can overpower.’ Epictetus

It struck me how the wisdom of one ancient philosopher could link three prisoners of war across time—Kerr, Stockdale and Peters—each drawing strength from the same unshakable truth: while we cannot control our external circumstances, we can always control our inner world.

C – Calm, Community, Commitment: stay calm, breathe and lean on the power of connection. Together we learn faster and endure longer.

D – Deliberate practice: build resilience through discipline, repetition and awareness.

John’s powerful closing reflection in his keynote was: ‘Don’t give up who you are in that final moment.’ For me, this one line encapsulates everything I stand for—purpose, integrity and the essence of human spirit.

Just like my grandfather’s, John’s story is a timeless reminder that even when everything external is stripped away, our spirit, will and sense of purpose remain firmly within our control. John's story was of courage, resilience, hope and ultimately, an unwavering focus on human spirit.

Focus on Human Spirit! Focus on Why!

REFLECTION WITH ACTION: If you find yourself facing a sudden, high-pressure challenge at work or in life and everything feels out of control, ask yourself: what is within my control and what deliberate action can I take that reflects my values and purpose?