Failure IS a Learning Experience and Assessment Tool - Nothing Else.
Learn from Failure and Keep Moving...
Resilience and mental toughness emerge from your willingness to confront failure head-on. Face it: Building resilience and mental toughness is uncomfortable. It’s a complex mix of fatigue, frustration, and self-doubt that resides outside your comfort zone. The magic happens when you push against these limits. Accept that feeling burned out and challenged indicates you’re in fertile ground for growth. Each struggle is a testament to your determination to become tougher and stronger.
Have you ever wondered why some of the most gifted individuals struggle when faced with failure? Throughout my journey as a student and coach, I've witnessed firsthand how exceptionally talented athletes, scholars, and leaders often conflate their capabilities with resilience. Many of these high achievers, particularly those in rigorous environments like the Naval Academy and SEAL training, have never encountered setbacks. When failure inevitably knocks on their door, they are often caught off guard, faltering, and choosing to give up. Valedictorians and high-level D1 athletes fall through these training programs every class.
The struggle is real, especially if you have never struggled.
But what if I told you that failure doesn’t have to define you? It can catalyze growth. To truly develop mental toughness and embody that Never Quit Mindset, you must bring grit, purpose, and a willingness to learn into the equation. Understanding your purpose becomes essential, especially when your will is being tested. This topic is covered in chapter 9 of the new Never Quit Mindset below:
Book, eBook, Audio Book
Feeling overwhelmed by setbacks? It’s easy to become disheartened in moments of struggle, but this is precisely where your opportunity for growth lies. Here are practical strategies to strengthen resilience and engrave a new narrative around failure.
First, embrace failure as an integral part of the human experience. Rather than dismissing these emotions, allow yourself the space to explore them. Please take a moment to reflect on your successes, however small they may be. Recognizing these achievements can boost your self-esteem and help you shift your perception of failure from a negative to a learning experience. Recall those times you said, “Well, I won’t do that again”—you’ve already begun to learn from things that did not go well.
Next, practice forgiving yourself, especially when things don't go as planned. It’s all too easy to fall into a cycle of self-criticism, but self-compassion can serve as your antidote to failure. I identify as an “apathetic optimist. " When I face setbacks, I remind myself, 'No big deal. It’s okay—I will do better next time.' Recognizing that it is human to make mistakes can reaffirm your drive and personal worth, regardless of your challenges.
Building Resilience is Messy - You Have to Get Dirty
The folks in this picture are training before dawn in 25-degree weather. Already, they had to wake up early, prepare for getting cold, and then endure training for the next 90 minutes when moving is the only thing helping to keep them warm. That is what building resilience feels like! It’s important to understand that nothing about resilience comes easy. It requires stepping far outside your comfort zone—an exhausting, messy, painful, and often frustrating process filled with uncertainty and well...discomfort. If you find yourself feeling burned out or frustrated, congratulations! You are right where resilience is forged.
Most importantly, remember that failure does not define you; rather, how you respond shapes your identity. By implementing these strategies, you can cultivate resilience, sustain disciplined habits, and navigate challenges with renewed purpose. Embrace the journey ahead—each step is a testament to your strength and determination.
As a parting thought, consider this challenge: Shift your mindset about failure. Replace the word "failure" with "learning experience" to dissolve negativity and embrace life's lessons. Remember, we all make mistakes and learn daily. Let’s start exploring those moments—get smarter with each experience.
Take the first step today:
- Move past fear of failure by taking action.
- Confront fear like a bully; it will weaken.
- Reframe your thoughts: “I will learn from this experience one way or another.”
- Have a short memory; Ted Lasso wisely says, “Be a goldfish.”
- If you feel the urge to procrastinate, try counting down from 5 and then take action.
When facing setbacks, maintain an objective stance. Assess what transpired and ask yourself, “How can I make my next attempt work?” Now, change begins. Embrace each challenge that comes your way; it’s an opportunity for learning and growth. Are you prepared to build the mental toughness necessary to thrive in adversity?
Embrace Failure and Come Back Stronger Than Ever - Unleash Your Never Quit Mindset
In a world where challenges are the obstacles meant to be overcome to achieve success, this chapter about failure in the Never Quit Mindset book is your essential companion for embracing failures as invaluable learning experiences. Through the guidance in its pages, you'll learn the art of navigating obstacles with courage and confidence. Packed with practical strategies that I've honed through years of coaching athletes, scholars, and leaders in rigorous environments, this book offers insights straight from the front lines. It’s time to transform how you perceive setbacks and take the first step towards a life of unwavering resilience.
Here’s what you can expect when you dive into the "Never Quit Mindset" book:
Gain Clarity - Develop a clear understanding of why failure doesn't define you but rather builds your strengths.
Actionable Strategies - Access tried-and-true practices to turn every challenge into a growth opportunity.
Mental Toughness Training - Strengthen your resolve with techniques used by top achievers in high-pressure environments.
Empowerment Through Empathy - Learn to treat setbacks compassionately, fueling your self-motivation and perseverance.
Cultivate Confidence - See setbacks as a platform for building a stronger, more resolved version of yourself.
Never Fear Failure Again
Having witnessed firsthand how even the most talented individuals struggle with setbacks, I bring you proven strategies from decades of training and coaching. My coaching experience in demanding environments like the Naval Academy, SEAL training, and other tactical professions, I focus on nurturing resilience with practical, everyday applications. My commitment is to help you foster a mindset that never quits, empowering you to learn and grow from every obstacle.
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Who is Stew Smith CSCS? Coach, Trainer, Writer, Podcaster: I'm the former Navy SEAL that tactical candidates go to for books, ebooks and online coaching to prepare themselves to get to and through intense tactical assessment and selection programs and qualify for service in their chosen tactical profession. See More at StewSmithFitness.com
Where to Find More Information About Optimal Performance Training Programs
When you start training again, consider the seasonal tactical fitness model. I call it A WAY to train and not the only way to train. However, it offers the opportunity never to neglect your weaknesses, helps with flexibility and mobility, and will also put you at a level of physical ability where you are satisfied with your overall ability to do just about anything. We have a system where the seasons dictate our training. When it is nicer outside, we tend to run and do more calisthenics. When it is colder and not so nice, we lift more, run less, and still maintain our outdoor activities with shorter runs and rucks. Check it out: Seasonal Tactical Fitness Periodization System.
These Seasonal Tactical Fitness BLOCK Periodization programs will walk you through 4 x 4 weeks cycles with 16 weeks of each season in two programs. (32 total weeks)
Increase Strength & Crush the PST / PAST
3 Weeks Strength - 1 Week PT / Cardio Focus
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These programs will walk you through 4 cycles with 12 weeks of each season in two programs.
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Navy SEAL Workout Phase 2 - 3
Navy SEAL Workout Phase 4 Grinder PT
Navy SWCC Workout
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Army PFT Workout (Prep For Rucking, OPAT, ACFT)
Army Special Forces / Ranger Workout
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Advanced Running Program - Special Ops Supplement Plan
USMC RECON / MarSOC Workout
USMC OCS / TBS Workout
USMC IST and PFT
The Combat Conditioning Workout
Air Force PJ / CCT Workout Battlefield Airman Prep Course
The UBRR Upper Body Round Robin Workout / Spec Ops version
The Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer / Navy SAR Workout
The Service Academy Workout (West Point, Navy, Air Force Academy)
The Navy, Air Force, Marine Corp Boot Camp Workout
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The FBI Academy Workout | FBI Workout Vol 2
The DEA Workout
The FLETC Workout - Ace the PEB
The PFT Bible: Pushups, Sit-ups, 1.5 Mile Run
The Fire Fighter Workout - Ace the CPAT
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