motivation

If you want inspiration – along with a kick in the butt – then look no further than retired Navy SEAL and endurance athlete David Goggins.

David recently wrote a book called Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds, which chronicles his amazing life and amazing willpower. If there’s one thing I learned from his life story, it’s that this guy is seriously driven… superhumanly driven… to be honest, somewhat insanely driven.

In Can’t Hurt Me, David Goggins reveals that most of us only tap into 40% of our capabilities (the 40% Rule), and he outlines a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear and reach their full potential.

David takes “overachiever” to a whole new level, so I feel like there might be something to this. His mantra has helped him become the only man in history to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger and Air Force Tactical Air Controller. As if that wasn’t enough, he then went on to set a world record in pull-ups and compete in numerous ultramarathons (FYI, these look nothing like your standard 5k charity runs).

Now, I’m realist and maybe somewhat of a cynic at heart, so I’ve never bought into the new age, touchie-feely self-improvement stuff before, but David’s honest, crazy and blunt approach was accessible and his achievements were so inspirational that I found myself sticking post-its to my bathroom mirror (gasp!).

So, here’s what I learned from the book:

1. Set Goals and Commit

I know, I know, everyone says to set goals… but David has a unique, no bullsh*t way of looking at this task. Sometimes in life we need some clarity (set goals) and often we need a little reminder (make them highly visible). So, as many have before, David advocates for an Accountability Mirror, where you post your goals, dreams and wants to your bathroom mirror. Where David’s approach differs from the rest is that he advocates for 100% honestly, and bluntness. 

“If you look in the mirror and see someone who is obviously overweight, that means you’re fucking fat! Own it! It’s okay to be unkind with yourself in these moments because we need thicker skin to improve in life,” says David.

Every day, look at that goal and make sure you are doing something to achieve it. This isn’t for everyone, but if you can’t give yourself a kick up the butt, will you ever change?

2. Sign up to Being Uncomfortable

To learn, change, grow or get stronger, you must be OK with discomfort. David asks readers to identify a few things that they don’t like or that make them uncomfortable, then go do them.

“It’s about moving the needle bit by bit and making those changes sustainable. That means digging down to the micro level and doing something that sucks every day. Even if it’s as simple as making your bed, doing the dishes…,” he says.

Find a way to step outside your comfort zone every day. Not only will you become a better, smarter, fitter person, but you will also feel more self-confidence and achievement in life in general.

“A lot of people in life are very successful but I think very few are fulfilled. Fulfillment comes when you know you tried your hardest and have given your absolute best when responding to life with “I must go on!” Stay hard!”

3. Define Your Identity

When you look in the mirror, who do you see? When you write your LinkedIn bio, what do you write? This is how you see yourself.

Is it what you want to see? Are you inspired by what you see?

If not, then re-write your story. Write down who you want to become: the faster runner in the field, the smartest student in the class, the best public speaker at the conference.

Then tell yourself that’s what you are, plot a path to achieve that goal and start moving to dial slowly in that direction. It will take time, adding more load on as you go to reset your baseline, but your new identity is what you need to fall back on when the going gets tough, when you get so tired that your mind wants you to stop (David calls this voice the Governor).

The fastest runner in the field, would not give up after losing a race. They would work harder. Decide what you want to be then make it happen!

Now this one was hard for me initially. After my accident, I didn’t know what I wanted. Nothing was appealing and everything was appealing all at once.

So, if you’re not sure what you want to be, start by identifying a few things that make you uncomfortable and work to achieve them. Success breeds more success, and before you know it, achievement will be a regular part of your life and you’ll have a clearer understanding of where you want to go – the key is to just get started on going somewhere.

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Related content: Read Moving On article The ‘No Excuses’ Beginners Exercise Plan , listen to our Podcast: Exercise Makes You Happy (E13)