David Goggins is the embodiment of human transformation. I read his autobiography Can’t Hurt Me, and it details his rough childhood and severe lack of education. It’s an understatement to say he wasn’t set up for success, but life didn’t stop him.
He became a Navy Seal, Army Ranger, set a pull-up world record, and became an ultra-endurance athlete running 100-mile races. This man’s will and life philosophy inspire me to be mentally and physically stronger. Here are three of my favorite life lessons from Goggins:
1. “… it’s not the external voice that will break you down. It’s what you tell yourself that matters. The most important conversations you’ll ever have are the ones you’ll have with yourself.”
My first and favorite takeaway from David Goggins is this statement. He had doubters at every stage of his life, but he learned to shut those external voices down. Do all those cynics determine your success? Negative.
Our self-talk is arguably the most critical thing in our life. We should be building ourselves up, not breaking ourselves down. Talk to yourself like an encouraging friend might talk to you, and forget all the haters and doubters.
2. Can’t Hurt Me emphasizes life is one big mind game. We have more control over our minds than we think.
In 2005, Goggins entered a 100-mile running race in San Diego without training. Through sheer determination and will, he finished it, at the cost of breaking bones in his feet and legs. Goggins also did 4,030 pull-ups in 17 hours to set a new pull-up world record in 2013. Before achieving that record, he dealt with multiple failures.
David emphasizes mindset in these physical feats. It’s more about the mind and less about the body. He says performing challenging tasks will build calluses in our minds, much like a guitar player builds calluses on their fingers after pushing down the strings. The more we can push our limits, the more resilient our minds become. In the most challenging moments, if we dig just a little deeper, we may surprise ourselves with what we can accomplish.
3. There’s no such thing as a “finish line” in life. Embrace every day.
Many people think of retirement as the finish line in life. We walk into the sunset, happy forever, complete. But he argues that the finish line doesn’t exist, and I agree. Life doesn’t stop at whatever age we decide to retire from our jobs. We will always have challenges and opportunities to grow.
Another example is physical fitness. In Can’t Hurt Me emphasizes physical exercise as something to pursue relentlessly. We don’t reach a peak physical condition and then stop. We keep going. Goggins says he is in better shape now in his 40s than in his 20s, and I believe that’s a powerful lesson.
The most important conversations you’ll ever have are the ones you’ll have with yourself.
So true, and you mentally know it’s true, but yet, so hard to do. Here, I think Kyle would say, is where meditation can help with that negative chatter.
Agreed, and I believe meditation really reveals our self-talk.