David Goggins

 

Last week we discussed Taking Souls and what to do to take a soul. But how do you reach a mental state and/or physical state so that you can take soul? You armor your mind.

Goggins’ fifth challenge, summarized, (from his book) is this:

Challenge #5 – It’s time to visualize again. Rather than focusing on bullshit you can’t change, imagine visualizing the things you can. Choose any obstacle in your way, or set a new goal, and visualize overcoming or achieving it. Before I engage in any challenging activity, I start by painting a picture of what my success looks and feels like. I’ll think about it every day and that feeling propels me forward when I’m training, competing, or taking on any task I choose.

You must also visualize the challenges that are likely to arise and determine how you will attack those problems when they do. That way you can be as prepared as possible on the journey. You can’t prepare for everything but if you engage in strategic visualization ahead of time, you’ll be as prepared as possibly can be.

That also means being prepared to answer the simple questions. Why are you doing this? What is driving you toward this achievement? Where does the darkness you’re using as fuel come from? What has calloused your mind? You’ll need to have those answers at your fingertips when you hit a wall of pain and doubt.

Remember, visualization will never compensate for work undone. You cannot visualize lies. It takes relentless self-discipline to schedule suffering into your day, every day, but if you do, you’ll find that at the other end of that suffering is a whole other life just waiting for you.

This challenge doesn’t have to be physical, and victory doesn’t always mean you came in first place. It can mean you’ve finally overcome a lifelong fear or any other obstacle that made you surrender in the past.

This week’s music.