After an unplanned hiatus it’s time for week 4 of our reading Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins together. We’re reading it as a vehicle for our improvement. We’re don’t want to waste a great opportunity before us. We’re seizing the initiative to grow and emerge from this shutdown better than we began. Below are my reflections for reading chapters 6 and 7.
Reflections
Two weeks ago, we talked about using physical challenges as a means to our own mental development. We discussed how suffering is the only path leading where we want to go. To benefit from it however, we need the ability to persevere; to keep hammering no matter how much it hurts.
Once again, we’re reminded that our reasoned choice makes all the difference. How do we handle the pain? How do we respond when “this may end badly” goes through your mind?
Each Memorial Day a hero workout called Murph is performed all over the world. It’s named after Lt. Michael Murphy of Operation Redwing. David mentions Murphy in chapter 6 and in so doing provides the perfect segue.
Murph consists of the following:
1-mile run
100 pull-ups
200 pushups
300 air squats
1-mile run
RX: 20/15 lbs vest
It’s one of my favorite workouts. It’s long. It’s brutal. You can split the reps up several different ways. My favorite style is performing 20 rounds of 5 pull-ups, 10 pushups, 15 squats. Regardless of how you split things, one of the last thoughts to go through your mind as you begin is, “This might end badly.” It doesn’t matter how hard you’ve worked or how in shape you are, you’re competing against yourself. You’re putting yourself to the test and seeing what you’re capable of.
You learn a lot about yourself when placed in these situations. Your response says everything. Just as your mind can serve you well, it can also hold you back. Do you fold or soldier on? Do you keep putting out or sandbag it as the pain mounts?
The course we choose depends on something else we talked about last week, and that makes another appearance here. That difference is purpose.
To persevere and do your best requires you have to a meaningful answer to the question of “Why?” You need a deeper reason driving you onward. Something personal and important to you. Something that will keep you going when the pain comes.
The problem is that, “We habitually settle for less than our best.” We’ve grown accustomed to accepting something other than our full out best. In fact, we hold a messed-up view of what we’re capable of.
“The human body,” Goggins said, “can withstand and accomplish a hell of a lot more than most of us think possible, and it all begins and ends in the mind.” You’re capable of performing at a much higher level than you are currently. It doesn’t matter where you are in your journey, you’ve still got a ways to go. And so, do I. We always remain a work in process.
There is no finish line. We are always traveling, never arriving. There will forever remain more we can do, more we can learn, more areas of our lives in need of improvement. We are playing an infinite game. One worth remaining fully engaged in, and winning.
How do we win? We when by asking yourself, “What am I leaving on the table?” Take personal stock of your life, and make changes. Ask yourself this question often and make the necessary changes.
“When you want to quit,” Goggins said, “you still have more to give.” This is a hard game. It requires all you have and will inevitably lead you to a point of wanting to quit. Everything hard eventually causes you to question your motives and tempts you to give in as the pain mounts. Don’t give in. Keep hammering. Keep working. No matter how far you’ve come or how much work you’ve put in, you still have more to give. Give it. Pour out ever last ounce energy, strength, and passion. Lay it on the line every day and remember that you’re playing a never-ending game.
Next Week
For next week, please read chapters 8 and 9.
Your Turn
I shared my notes from reading this past week. I’d love to hear what you pulled from this week’s reading. If you’re reading this online, drop a comment below. If you’re reading via email, hit reply. If you don’t want to do either, that’s perfectly fine.