Table of Contents
Introduction to the Fitness Motivation Project / Thank You
About Your Motivation to Serve Others
Military / Police / Fire / EMT / Rescue Related
Team mates / Having a Workout Partner / Competition
Family / Health / Setting an Example
Inner Demons / Proving People Wrong
With Motivation Comes Mental Toughness
Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
"GET COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE"
Introduction to the Fitness Motivation Project
The number one reason why people do not work out regularly is
#1 - “I cannot find the motivation to exercise.”
So I posed the question to some of the most motivated people I know personally in my social circle, in my local gym, and on my social media recently,
“What motivates you to work out every day?”
My goal was to write just an article. Maybe a Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Exercise article that answered the question above. After receiving hundreds of answers, I decided to share these motivational reasons in what I now call the Motivation Project.
You only need one reason to be effective with your workout plans, but having some backup never hurt.
Many of these answers have a service related theme to them as most of my readers are military, police, fire fighters or those training for the public service professions. Staying fit can be the difference between life and death in these jobs. These guys get it.
The Motivation Project is segmented into the following categories with several diverse reasons that follow:
Family and Health – Living longer and stronger for my family. Stress relief can go in this group too as it is the biggest killer to us all every year.
Competition – Having a race or event to train for helps push them when they feel like skipping a day.
Team Mates / Work Out Partners– Having teammates, work out partners, or buddies whether at work or still in school keeps many moving.
Fear of Failing – Many just want to push themselves so they do not fail certain programs, races, events, or even themselves.
Calm the Inner Demons / Proving Others Wrong – Many people like to conquer the lazy person in their head or prove others wrong who doubted them.
Regardless of your fitness goals, profession, or what motivates you just to get up out of bed every day, find that passion inside you and make yourself better with a short period every day to do some form of activity.
About the Aesthetics of Fitness: Many people will say they want to look better as their sole motivation. There is nothing wrong with that, but after 20 years in the fitness business and many more staying motivated to train, I have found that you need some backup reasons. Unless you are a body builder or really vain, it is difficult to maintain the motivation of “looking good naked.”
The Motivation Project addresses other areas or reasons to stay motivated and gives you your “WHY?”. Now, there are countless reasons and we are all motivated differently to do things, but as you will see in the following pages, these reasons hit home. Some of them make you realize you really do not have any excuses.
Good luck with finding what motivates you to exercise. It takes effort, but so does everything else in life. You will find once you build the habit to exercise, you will build character as well. Then, mental toughness will follow and you will be unstoppable.
Remember – Fitness is a Journey – Not a Destination. Enjoy the ride!
Thank You
Thank you all for the great ideas. Some of you are wise beyond your years. Check out the comments in the following sections received from people who are motivated in this life – not just in fitness but in everything they do.
You can learn from many of these people when you feel sorry for yourself and want to skip a workout, a school day, a work day…etc.
Every day is another day in which to excel. Take advantage of that strength that is within us all! No excuses!
About the Author – Stew Smith CSCS
Stew Smith is a former Navy Lieutenant (SEAL) who graduated from the United States Naval Academy and Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training. He has been personally training, testing, and writing workout books and ebooks that prepare people to ace fitness tests for over 25 years now. People from all levels of fitness use his military preparation products to lose weight, prepare for basic training, as well as advanced level athletes who are training for Special Ops.
Stew founded Heroes of Tomorrow Fitness – an online fitness resource for people seeking Military or Law Enforcement / Firefighting professions. He trains young men and women for free locally who wish to serve our country and communities. Your purchases help us and our team of volunteer trainers prepare tomorrow’s military, police, and fire fighters to physically do their job. We actually see over 5,000 young men and women each year.
Stew also works with the Tactical Strength and Conditioning program of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). He also has over 800 articles on Military.com Fitness Forum focusing on a variety of fitness, nutritional, and tactical issues military members face throughout their career.
The following list is the published books/eBooks written focusing on specific training programs. All books and manuals are fitness related and have a multi-week training program to help you prepare for any test, training program, or just lose weight and get fit for duty. Basically - anything that requires a fitness test to enter, StewSmithFitness.com has the answer.
Other Books / eBooks Written by Stew Smith
The Complete Guide to Navy SEAL Fitness
Navy SEAL Weight Training Workout
Maximum Fitness – The Complete Guide to Navy SEAL Cross-training
The SWAT Workout
The Special Operations Workout
NEW – Tactical Fitness
NEW - Military, Police, Fire Fighter PT Test Survival Guide
General Fitness and Nutritional Guides for Everyone
The Beginner / Intermediate Guide to Fitness
Reclaim Your Life - Erin O'Neill Story (beginner / intermediate)
Veterans Fitness - Baby Boomer and a Flat Stomach!
Circuit Training 101 – Beginner / Intermediate Guide to the Gym
The Busy Executive Workout Routine
The Obstacle Course Workout – Prep for Races or Mil, LE, FF
TRX / Military Style Workouts – Adding TRX to Military Prep Workouts
The Military / Special Ops Physical Fitness Workouts
Advanced Maintenance / Recovery Plan
The Combat Conditioning Workout
Air Force PJ / CCT Workout
The UBRR – Upper Body Round Robin Workout / Spec Ops version
Navy SEAL Workout Phase 1
Navy SEAL Workout Phase 2 - 3
Navy SEAL Workout Phase 4 Grinder PT
Navy SWCC Workout
Army Special Forces / Ranger Workout
Army Air Assault School Workout
Army Airborne Workout
USMC RECON Workout
USMC OCS / TBS Workout
USMC IST and PFT
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
The Army OCS and PFT Workout
The Law Enforcement Physical Fitness Workouts
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
Contact Info
As part of the downloadable, you do have access to email me at any time and I will answer your questions as soon as possible. Below are the different ways to contact me for any of the products and services at www.stewsmith.com.
Mail and email addresses:
StewSmith.com
PO Box 122
Severna Park MD 21146
Email - stew@stewsmith.com
Join us on our Social Media Accounts
and share your reasons why you stay motivated:
© Stew Smith MMXV - All rights reserved. Any part of this book may NOT be reproduced without the permission of the author. Any unauthorized transmission electronic or printed is prohibited.
Quotes and pictures listed in this program are a combination of purchased stock photos, military open source photos, and quotes and testimonials from readers via email and the author’s website / social media.
Other EBOOKS on Amazon.com for Kindle / Kindle APP users
Army Special Ops (Ranger / SF)
Military, Police, Fire Fighter PT Test Survival Guide
Special Ops Prep Running Program
Obstacle Course Workout Program
About Your Motivation to Serve Others
When someone tells me they lack the motivation to train hard prior to joining one of the public service professions, I usually start off with:
“It is not my job to motivate you to serve your country.”
I typically follow up with, “You should reconsider your choice of professions if this is the case. One day your fitness could be the difference of you surviving a life or death situation. It could be the difference of you being able to save your partner or even your family members. Yes – fitness is THAT important!” (Stew Smith)
My intent is not to discourage them, but give them a dose of reality and with a little reverse psychology inspire them to become self-motivated.
The most important ability to have when serving your country or community is self-motivation. To be honest, with self-motivation and determination, you can graduate any program and not be the fastest runner or swimmer, or the strongest and best athlete. In fact, you can do ANYTHING with the right motivation.
No matter which branch of service or local / federal law enforcement agency you select as a profession, you need to be motivated and prepared on many levels. People who need to be motivated typically may crumble when in training. It is the self-motivated who rise to the occasion when the days get long, and the nights get cold, wet, and miserable.
Fitness Preparation: If my statement above does not motivate you to work out, then maybe you should consider a different occupation. Not being motivated to exercise happens in all of us. But turning that around and working out anyway is a daily dose of overcoming quitting and building mental toughness. Besides, you will always feel better later in the day after exercise rather than skipping a workout.
Once you make a decision to serve (or earlier), your life has to be built around these near daily experiences of waking up early and running or swimming before dawn in any weather or putting on a sweaty / nasty pair of football, hockey, or lacrosse pads for a second time during two a day practices. These experiences build mental toughness and you can tap into this NEVER QUIT attitude by remembering those days when you succeeded and performed at a high level.
The end result of your motivation – your self-motivation is mental toughness, confidence, and the ability to persist when negative feedback occurs in life. Remember – Never Quit! It should be a part of you.
Military / Police / Fire / EMT / Rescue Related
Question: What motivates you to train every day?
Future Military, Law Enforcement, and Fire Fighters – All share in a common goal of preparing for a life of physical challenges. Many successful young men and women seeking these professions all consistently train hard for a considerable amount of time prior to their selection. Many are trying to get a solid foundation and making weaknesses a strength. When I was preparing for SEAL training, it was brutal transitioning from a powerlifting football player – rugby player to the type of shape you need to be in at BUD/S. It took over two years, but performing well and not getting crushed by a school that boasts a 75+% attrition rate was a goal and a challenge I wanted for myself. Later in my career, one of the best sayings about the type of people who make it through SEAL training was shared with me:
Only the Motivated Find the Teams. (Stew Smith)
I liked that so much, I used it in my website banner:
The section below is from veterans of the military, police, and fire, medical professions as well as from those seeking those jobs. The motivation is plenty with this group. You can learn a few things from the type of people who are willing to run in the direction of the chaos – to risk their life for you. That is motivation to serve! (Stew Smith)
“My motivation is knowing that being physically fit is at the core of being a good Marine. It can save your life. I also remind myself that our enemies are training just as hard, and if I slack off, people can die. That's what gets me going on the days where I'm just not feeling it.”
“Honestly, just the fact that I want to be ready for BUD/S both mentally and physically. So, I train until I can no longer do more and then try to do more. I want to be ready for the hardships of BUD/S and SQT and such.”
“Knowing that a terrorist is training to kill me so I must train harder.”
“Knowing that when I join the military, I need to be at the top physical condition possible in order to do whatever is asked of me.”
“The only thing that motivates me is so I have a chance at the SEALs because I don’t like saying I’m going to do something. I like actually doing it.”
“The fellas on the Rescue rig with me. Good ole Rescue 11 at the Wrightsboro Fire Station.”
“What does it for me is the concept of being better than I was yesterday. Some days that means a rest day. Other days, it means a 4-hour bike & a 90-minute run. Either way, it's be a better version of myself. And oh yeah, I have this bit as my alarm clock.” See Link to Video.
“Perhaps my best motivator to date is my new career as a registered nurse in an ER. In the military, I was a helicopter pilot, so I needed to be in shape, but that was nowhere near the level of physical readiness and endurance I need right now. I seem to run for 12+ hours straight on a normal shift, and that does not include those shifts that include a code. The first time I did CPR on an actual human it was clear I needed to step up my game (and my level of endurance.) So for my exercise I run 3-5 miles 5-6 days a week. I add to that core strengthening exercises to protect my back.”
“Because every shift I am bombarded by living examples of what happens when one does NOT take care of themselves...can't breathe, can't walk, can't even roll over in bed on their own without my help, so I need to have my body in the best shape so I do not trash it taking care of someone else's. To add to my motivators -- stress relief -- I have worked many a problem out in my head while my feet hit the pavement, and found inner peace after a shift when everything did not go as I would have wished. I have followed your guidance for a while, and while I take something from all of Stew’s articles, the best advice that helped me get where I am now was Stew’s article on the 5 Steps to Building Mental Toughness. I printed it out and saved it. My mantra on runs where I feel like crap is "get comfortable being uncomfortable." So thank you. Your advice not only helps seasoned elite athletes, but it helps all of us no matter what level of fitness we have achieved or what our goals are. You motivated me plebe year to keep it together and finish what I started, and you continue to motivate me. I have done a lot of running here in Chesapeake Beach, but I want to do a few runs back at the Naval Academy, where it all started for me.”
“Soldierly capability and a steadfast refusal to get old.”
“I think all military personnel should be ready for war - even if non-combat specialists like myself aren't likely to get in a firefight, and fitness is part of that.”
“First, I would like to live long enough to walk my daughter down the aisle at her wedding. Second, I enjoy seeing what my limits are. Third, my job requires that I preform at a high level physically, my life and my men's lives depend on my fitness.”
“As a not so young volunteer firefighter I must keep top fit to be able to serve.”
“My motivation is enlisting and getting the contract I want. 6 months ago I couldn't care less what I ate or if I worked out. I now have a clear view of my goal and I'll do everything I can to get there.”
“Getting ready for a new and exciting career with the USCG!”
“I'm in for training for life. Period. I'm an old, soon to be 65-year old Vietnam Vet who needs to train daily for mental health. I train so that my mind and body can function at a high level for the uncertainty that life may bring forward.”
“The enemies of our nation are training. They are fighting now, bettering their skills, to one day fight us. The career path I'm choosing will require me to one day encounter those men. And while I sit back in the U.S, they inflict horrible atrocities across the globe. I train for that one day when I meet them. I train so that when that day comes, I can give everything required. When my motivation is low, and I don't want to work out, I think of them. I think of the fact that as I sit here and choose not to work out, they are training, training to kill me. I can't let that happen. So every day, every moment, I train to beat them, mentally, emotionally, and physically.”
“It has to be either goal oriented or job oriented. You have to be training for something or your just moving weight around. Or if you are in LE and military then you are training for the unknown but you have a lot more riding on that.”
“I’m the Chief of our Volunteer FD and an auxiliary police officer. I ruck and run all the time in town knowing that not only do my members see meet out there but so do the citizens. I always want to be putting out a positive example to them.”
“As someone who's training to enter the military, mine is pretty simple: the harder I work now, the easier it will be when I get there. If I've got the time and I've got any energy left at the end of the day, I should invest it in myself so that the physical aspects of military training will be much easier for me. Even if I don't feel like moving today, I know there will be some day when I am glad I kept moving.”
“I am old. I used to be pretty badass, but at 64 age and having cancer has kind of put a damper on me. BUT I ain’t quitting! I won’t stop! I may be slower and weaker. I may be real skinny, but I am not giving up!
Every damn day. “Never Quit! ~ from old Frogman”
“I tend to be very mission oriented and focused, so I have to convince myself "in order for us to accomplish X, I must train to Y. It helps me to stay focused.”
“As an aspiring Marine Corps Officer Candidate, my motivation is knowing that being physically fit is at the core of being a good Marine. It can save your life. I also remind myself that our enemies are training just as hard, and if I slack off, people can die. That's what get me going on the days where I'm just not feeling it.”
“I believe all those called to be warriors have an obligation to 'stand ready' as long as possible barring something beyond their control. And, it doesn't hurt that it simply feels great to stay in top condition!”
“It's a mindset. Reminding myself of the military person that I want to be and what it's going to take to get there. Some of my best workouts have been the times that I didn't feel like doing it at that moment. I wouldn't let my laziness/procrastination get the better of me.”
“Being in the military as a pre-ranger instructor. I learned that as a SM, we must be physically fit because at any time we can be called upon to do something our job requires us to do. For example, if one of the cadre cannot conduct a 12-mile foot March serving as a safety for the students because he got hurt we as cadre has to cover down and take his spot. Or having to do events back to back like CWST then 5mile run etc. as cadre we cannot fall out. So what motivates me to train consistently is that at any given time as a SM we will be called upon to do what we are trained to do or what we raised our right hand and swore to do.”
"For The Brotherhood!! For the Man Next to Me, To Not Let Him Down. Hooyah!!”
“There's an old saying in police work. "As I get older, the bad guys get younger or stay the same age." That's about all the motivation I need.”
“That thought, combined with a profession (Firefighter), where my life or others can depend on my fitness, and the statistics that firemen have a higher chance of heart attacks and cancers - how can you NOT stay motivated to wake up early, to push a little bit harder, to not give up on the last rep or two?”
“Why do I train? For me the answer is simple: To be the opposite of weak! I have no idea what life is going to throw at me, I just want to be mentally and physically prepare for whatever comes my way. I don’t train to be a hipster, eating nuts and berries, so I can fit in my skinny jeans. I train to maintain the mental toughness, I sacrificed so hard to achieve in the ring and in the Marines. I never want to lose that edge. F*&# being average. F*&# being weak and soft. Box like Heaven, train like Hell.” From Instagram @fightingmojotv
“Know your enemy and train to beat them. It could be terrorists, criminals, fire, or other events that Mother Nature brings my way. I have to be strong for what I do and will do in the future.”
“As an Air Force Airman training to become part of the Air Force Para-Rescue, I read the motto everyday: That Others May Live. So, you asked why I train hard every day? I train hard so others may live.”
“Because I don't want to go to BUDS to survive. I want to compete in the top 10% every day. And that one day, my life, or more importantly someone else's life may depend on how prepared my body and mind are. I like days I don't feel like working out. It's a barrier I get to give the middle finger to and push on.”
“I have to take that victim out of that burning building tomorrow. Not training now, is not saving a life tomorrow. As Lebanon war veteran, I cannot afford losing a life due to not trained enough. I must be almost in the same shape I was 35 years ago while under combat conditions when I was eighteen.”
“My training motivation reflects a revulsion against mediocrity and a refusal to be outworked. I train so that I can be strong for the Team with which I will one day serve. I train so that I can be the one of which Heraclitus spoke: the one who ‘will bring the others back’."
Full Heraclitus quote: “Out of every hundred men, ten shouldn’t be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.”
“Training hard has to be a part of you, and when you love something that much motivation doesn't come from quotes and YouTube videos. It's just a matter of finding passion in the daily grind, building strong habits, and doing your job. There is no secret sauce. You don't need to know what perfect looks like, only what better looks like. Half the battle is showing up - The rest will take care of itself.”
The Evolution of WHY: “At different times I had different motivation:
HS and College athlete – I worked hard to win and qualify for joining Special Ops.
As an SOF candidate - to pass, become an SOF warrior.
As I served - to survive, win, not let my brothers down.
As a leader - to set the example.
Now, as I get older - to live long and well.”
Team mates / Having a Workout Partner / Competition
Question: What motivates you to train every day?
Group Training – being part of a team – “Personally, these days, having a group to be a part of does it for me. I train kids 20 years younger than I am and strive to hang with them each day at 6am. Being in a group (or group trainer) makes you work harder than if by yourself. You also feel bad because you let down the team if you fail to show or work hard. This one was received by many different groups from athletes in sports of all ages, ballet dancers, Cross Fitters, and group training instructors of all types of workouts.” Stew Smith
“Knowing that there's someone out there better than me. And just a goal. Not stopping until I have accomplished whatever it is I'm fighting for.”
“Waking up in the morning at 0400 knowing that you are a stronger person today than you were yesterday, but you won't be a stronger person tomorrow unless you put in everything you got TODAY. Setting goals day by day also helps. Just one more lap, one more push-up, pull-up, etc.”
“I have a brother and we are constantly competing, so when I see him or think of him, it gets me going on doing what I have to do.”
“Honestly competition. And noticing improvements, and on the days that I don't feel like doing it, well there's really no other choice. (That's the mindset I put myself in, of course I have a choice but I don't tell myself that).”
“Having an accountability teammate or team to workout with was the absolute key for me.”
“High school football coach always said "Champions are made when no one is watching." It's stuck with me ever since. The best do what's needed even when it's inconvenient. That's what keeps me going.”
“The way I see it if my teammates / buddies are bigger than me then I'm not doing my job so competition keeps me motivated.”
From the older / wiser athlete there are several:
“Here is what motivates me:
- Looking at pictures of myself 50 lbs ago. (functional and aesthetics)
- Still being able to participate in multi-hour / day endurance events and be social with some pretty amazing people. (team / performance)
- Cheating the time clock of life. Staying fit and exercising regularly is the fountain of youth.
- I enjoy working out itself - some go to a shrink - I use the gym or toss on the ruck and go! (stress buster)
I think in the end, many of the fittest people I know share the same love of fitness and hard work. It has become a habit - maybe even starting with childhood sports and never reaching a destination in this fitness journey.”
“As a coach and former athlete I ponder this to myself: Were you committed and devoted towards reaching your goals today? Were you the hardest working person in your gym, county, state? If not, why did you end your workout. Why is your day done? Can you expect to reach your goals with less than all of your effort? How important are they to you? Train to be someone's motivation!”
“My parents always told me do what makes you happy so you never work a day in your life. Passion is what drives me to be a Team guy.”
“Knowing that my buddies are going through the same thing and counting on me. The team aspect solidifies the importance.”
“That waking up early every morning to PT is what separates me from the rest of people. And also to better myself.”
“To be superior to my former self. Knowing that pushing myself harder everyday makes me stronger and better than the person I was yesterday. Also, the belief that being in the best physical condition will give me no regrets when I am tested, because I will be ready.”
“My friends motivate me. Being around others who put out as much effort as I do makes me work harder and want to perform for my teammates.”
“I feel that if someone is willing to train hard to help people in distress, I should do the same and NOT be the person needing help walking up stairs.”
“Feeling like I'm part of a team. Being an extrovert, it's a need actually.”
“Realizing that someone else is out there working to beat me and that in order for me to beat him I have to go out there and out work him.”
“Knowing my competition is working at the moment so I should be too.”
“Knowing that someone else in the world is waking up, and pushing to be stronger and faster than I am.”
“Having an exercise buddy definitely helps me! This morning I worked out with a personal trainer and two other ladies! I don't have to think whether I should go or sleep in.”
“In the past few years for me, I have been most consistent with working out when I have committed to a road race and signed up for it. When I have a half marathon or 10K to train for, it encourages me to get out there and get the run in, or to get over to the gym and get the leg workout in. Without that race on the horizon, I find it too easy to skip a day.”
“I teach and train Krav Maga. Remembering that I'm making myself, my students, my staff, and everyone around me safer usually helps to push past the days when it's easy to whine about training.”
“Missing a day - Not only are you sacrificing your chances of performing, but hindering team performance. I found the later to be easier to get motivated. A team win was much more motivating than an individual win.
I think everyone has a team and that team changes with time. One quote comes to mind, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together’.”
“I swam for 9 years - 3 times a week, getting up at 6 am and driving 30 miles to be in the pool by 7am. Even when I retired, I did this. I stayed with it because swimming was the one thing I loved to do, growing up on the beach. The pool was an indoor pool, so no excuses, rain or shine. My limit was when the temperature dropped below 40 degrees. Previously, I tried cycling, running, rowing machine, tread mill, recumbent bike. All lasted about 6 months or if it started to rain. So, you have to love what you're doing, or you'll quit after the least excuse to do so comes up.”
“I hate losing. Avoiding regret is a motivator.”
“This morning I was tired and lacked motivation because I did not sleep well. On days like today, I have fallback workouts that are easier and are not complicated. These workouts are very useful because they provide a change of pace and jolt the muscles out of their routine. A workout is better than no workout and I always feel better after a workout even if it is a brief workout!”
“Knowing that if I needed to do something out of the ordinary, I would be able to do it. I live on a farm and have been chased by an 1800 lb Bull, you best believe it is imperative to be able to haul ass across a pasture to get out of his path.”
“I always sign up for an event - Spartan/Mudder/GoRuck to keep me training out of sheer fear of failing. Since my kids support me 100% and have expressed sincere interest, I keep going so I am able to do this WITH them when they are old enough, and to set an example. I've convinced myself that training while tired and not ideal circumstances will help me if those same circumstances arrive during an event. Add in the general overall feeling of well-being, health benefits, translation to other sports....etc and it's a no brainer.”
“Reminding myself that it is like running a marathon and not a sprint. Not beating yourself about your bad days or days you just don’t feel motivated but focus on the big picture and be consistent over the longer term. I keep telling myself to 'Think and act strategic'.”
“As a high school coach, my wrestlers keep me on my toes. I can't be an effective coach or leader if I'm not fit. My athletes look to me not only as a role model, but also as someone who will not only push them to their physical and mental limits, but will participate with them.”
“When I hit the last loop on my belt! I refuse to buy a new belt or new suits. Heroic not really - but you asked.”
“Constantly challenging myself is a way of life. Though I don't have time (have to make time) to work out as much as I'd like, the challenge to stay healthy and in decent shape, keeps me motivated.”
“Year Round Racing!!! Always have that carrot dangling in front of you.”
"Music is always a big one in my opinion. If there is no direct competition you are in or training for music is my motivator for any physical activity."
“I think it's a phase thing... when you're younger, motivations are different. Now that I'm in my mid-40s, the motivation is more about setting positive conditions for 20 years from now. Also to ease the pain of injuries from years past and maintain functions in my limbs and muscles that I once took for granted.”
Having a Tangible Goal (quarterly or more) – Signing up for events and race competitions are ways to have a carrot dangling in front of you while you train.
“Training to compete with a group of people in a race is a way to reduce and even eliminate those days where you consider skipping a workout.”
Family / Health / Setting an Example
Question: What motivates you to train every day?
Family Health and Wellness – “I too have a family. Being a positive role model to my kids is primary for me. Being able to teach them how to exercise is just as important as teaching them how to read.”
(Stew Smith)
Many people work out to stay healthy for their family or future family as in this motivated military lawyer’s case:
“The thing that gets me motivated and moving is my family. I am 28 and don't have a wife and kids yet but will someday. I have lost 67lbs this year in an attempt to get into the Air Force Jag and have finally been accepted. First, I had to lose weight. I wanted to be able to provide for my family and give them the best life I could so I put my body to the test day in and day out. Keeping them in mind and knowing I was doing it for them kept me going when it was so easy to say stop and go home.”
“My kids. Now that they are getting old enough to really participate in athletics or other active pursuits on more and more of a peer basis, I know that if I don't maintain regularly, I won't be able to share all the sports and adventures with them that I want to. If I don't maintain now, I won't be able to get in a rowing shell with my son in two years' time, or run a 10k with him in the spring, or hike half a dozen national parks with my daughter in four or five years.”
“Watching my dad stick with it his whole life until he died last summer was always an inspiration for me to continue that legacy and follow his example. And, I want to be able to show my daughter and students what they can do and lead from the front as long as God will keep me going.”
“I am a MOM. I am motivated simply by the fact that I can & I am able.
I have many friends that were able and now are not. It pains them every day. When I don't feel it, I think of them and all those who simply can NOT and so I do - because I can.”
“To keep up with my kid and ensure I'm here for her and her kid.”
“To not go back to where I once was physically, to move forward to where I want to be physically, and to be as strong as I can physically and mentally as long as I can for my wife and boys as we all continue to age. AND Thank you for your motivational assistance.”
“My motivation can have a lot to do with my nutrition and energy. If I've been splurging too much on carbs I'm tired and not motivated. That's when I whip up a green shake in the Vitamix. It's amazing how you feel when you are putting the right things into your body.”
“What motivates me to train is after having cancer and still being alive. Being on life support and a whole host of medical issues, I can show my kids and others that they CAN do it and are not alone. It was incredibly scary to take that first step to work out again. The truth be told, had Stew Smith not answered his phone the day I called, I don't know if I would have kept training when things got hard. So after all I have been through, the strong support system around me keeps helping me consistently moving forward.”
“I was an active person until my spine collapsed in 2010. When it was reconstructed in 2011, my life and body changed forever. I now work out to be able to walk and function in the future. It doesn't hurt to look and feel better as well.”
“I exercise for the amazing short term benefits, not so much for the long term visual benefits. If I only do it for the abs and biceps I'll lose interest very quickly, so I focus more on the psychological and hormonal benefits instead. I always feel great after training.”
“I want to avoid health issues in the future. Build the foundation now for the future. And I want to be happy, look good, and live long.”
“My first martial arts master saw me dragging one day at practice when we were prepping for Nationals and Team Trials. He asked me what my deal was and I said I just wasn't feeling it that day (I was 14). He looked at me grimly and said, 'Anyone can train when they feel like it...a Champion trains when they don't feel like it'. That one statement has gotten me to the gym more times than I can ever count...Later I updated it to say, “A warrior trains when they don't feel like it.” The spirit is the same.”
As a coach, my motivation is one simple question. How can ask 70+ young men to show up and give 100% effort if I refuse to get up early and get my own workout done? That is my motivation.
“As cheesy as it sounds, a big motivator for me is setting an example for and impressing my 7-year old son. He looks at me like I can do anything and I want to prove him right.”
“Living longer and healthier for my kids. I also don't want to burden them as I get older. I want to enjoy my old age as much as possible and not have my kids carry me due to health issues.”
“I have a pregnant wife with stage 3 breast cancer and our 5-year old son. I have to stay strong for them, even if it means sacrificing sleep.”
“Motivation is my job! I want to be healthy for myself, my husband, and children, but also for my students who look to me for support, guidance, wisdom, and inspiration.”
“I am a CEO in charge of a very busy company. My main motivations for training consistency come from me wanting to feel fit, have boundless energy, and to look good relative to my peers (I am 53), and also to live a longer life than my parents did. SOMETIMES, my career and work travel intervene and makes it difficult to keep up workouts but these are my strategies: 1) I drop-in to CrossFit classes throughout the world when I travel, this is a great way to keep up my training momentum, also make new friends, and add to my collection of CrossFit gym t-shirts. 2) I always travel with my Garmin running watch and with my jump rope so I can get in a run or a double under session. When work hours get really insane, I try hard to not sacrifice my workouts—they are the last item on my schedule to be canceled for me and my goal is 4x per week. If I'm tired from work, I always try a lower level of working out that just gets me moving, even if slowly: my go-to's for this include neighborhood walks, hikes, an easy run on the beach, swimming laps at UCLA, a short sprint workout, a few minutes on my Concept 2 or my Assault Bike, or an extra Krav Maga session. I am also very careful with diet when I am traveling or under work stress because I experience a high correlation between good diet and staying on track with my workouts. I hope this helps!”
“I have a family history of diabetes, High BP, Cholesterol, etc. I have to train if I want to live past 50 years old.”
“After seeing my grandfather die relatively young and seeing my father continue to live with much the same behaviors - I stay motivated. Motivated to make a choice in my well-being so I can be here for my family.”
“At any time, we could find ourselves in a situation where how well we have trained can decide if we or those we care about survive. From an accident like car wreck, to a shooting, to simply falling during a hike and dealing with Mother Nature. This is something I think of when I want to quit.”
“My family. My dad had strokes at age 39 and I don't want to put my family through that. I'm also a cop and veteran and know I have to be fit for the fight to protect my partner and make sure we both go home to our families. So – I am headed to lift now.”
“Too remain healthy, I beat diabetes and lost 150lbs a few years ago. The fear of going back to that death-scare motivates me.”
Fear of Failing
Question: What motivates you to train every day?
“Fear of Failing” was an answer I gave in my SEAL officer interview when asked, “What did I fear.” Later I came to realize that being lost at sea was actually a bigger fear. It is a real big ocean out there! But, fearing to fail is a powerful source when everyone doubts you and you are having a bad day. A simple phrase of “I can’t quit” can go a long way to helping face that fear head on. (Stew Smith)
“Fear. When I was getting ready to go at AFG as a man in his late 30s, I knew I would be expected to keep up with the 20 somethings on patrol. I also understood the consequences of being the guy who could not keep up. I just turned 40, so now I am afraid that if I do not keep pushing myself, I will not be able to do the things I enjoy (biking, hiking, skiing, ect.) later in life. Also, pride and vanity help.”
“To always be READY and CAPABLE for whatever life throws at me. Failing can mean death.”
“To be the absolute best that you can be with your God given talents and abilities. So that whenever you fail you can say it was because you didn't work hard enough.”
“If you're not getting better, you're getting worse. Always 100% effort.”
“A constant state of self-improvement and preparedness. Having a strong mind, strong body so I can better use the modest gifts I've been given.”
“On hard days it's just habit. Don't want to but do it anyway, like going to class or whatever. Can't always be fired up and passionate sometimes you just have to clock in, train, and go home.”
“Fear of being AVERAGE.”
“I train so I can eat without worry. Because no one warned me, somewhere between 30-35 my metabolism would quietly break up with me without warning. Before my metabolism left, it switched out all of my pants with the next size down. So the next time I tried to put a pair on I would have a better chance at willing away poverty than sucking in enough air to shimmy my ass into them. Also, since I like breasts so much my body decided to grow two nice ones up top and store enough extra in my midsection in case I needed to make a third one later on. Eating what you want without training for a middle aged guy is simply signing up to walk around in a support bra, with a pot belly and circulation stopping, tight jeans.”
“When my time really comes to perform I know I will have to push through the pain so start now and train for the suck.”
“Fear of Failing – and failing is not an option if I want to go home every day in my job.”
“I actually sleep better at night when I feel like the day has been productive both in my training and in my work.”
“Fear of suffering at GORUCK events.”
Inner Demons / Proving People Wrong
Question: What motivates you to train every day?
Never Quit – Proving Others Wrong – The Force is strong in this one! If you have this motivation it helps. I have used this piece of motivation to prove people wrong throughout my life – still do. I have had people all my life tell me I would never make a varsity football team since I never played before, or make it TO or THROUGH the Naval Academy. And when they heard I was going to go to SEAL training, well you can guess what I heard. Regardless, every step of the way, that was my fuel when my tank was empty. This reason is very powerful for those seeking challenging education / career paths as well as those fighting serious medical issues – Keep Fighting – Never Quit! (Stew Smith)
“My motivation is to prove people wrong. Someone once told me you're just going be fat because you are type one diabetic - all diabetics are fat. That sparked something inside me and motivated me to prove them wrong. It's been a little over a year and I have taken off 51 pounds and feeling great. And those two great words - Never Quit!!! is a big part of my life.
“Seeing where I could be physically and comparing it to where I am now. That's what motivates me. I'm trying to get my body fat percentage down and my APFT score up.”
“Sheer bullheadedness (sometimes). I don't usually have to resort to it, but once in a while I feel like quitting and I can dismiss all the positive reinforcement in the world (especially when the bed is so warm and comfy). But there's something in my nature that won't let me. I hear a little voice in my head that says, "You started, you better finish." It may not be the best motivator in all scenarios, but it does have its place.”
“Some people need to fight. Every workout is a fight within yourself to get the job done. The harder the training the harder fight!”
“Looking at what I could be vs what I am now.”
“To be stronger than yesterday. To quiet the demons of depression. Because my team (family, friends, event teammates) need me to be strong for whatever obstacle comes up.”
“The people that ever doubted me in my child hood, and the personal drive to be the best person I can be at everything.”
“Two things, not in any order:
1) The goal in my mind,
2) An image that I'm, say, Rocky in the first movie, refusing to give up.”
“Simply knowing that I can be better than I am now.”
“Negative things motivated me the most. I know if I don't do something I won't better myself in anyway. Knowing if I don't train, nothing good will come. I don't want to see myself as a quitter, so I strive for greatness.”
“Convincing myself that I will only try it for 9 minutes, and after 9 minutes I can either stop or continue. Since getting started is the hardest part, I always continue. Also eating a balanced diet. I noticed when I don't eat right I don't even feel like standing let alone working out. Eating is way easier than running or lifting, so I usually eat a balanced diet for 1 week straight prior to starting a fitness routine. That usually gives me the energy I need to feel motivated to do anything.”
“Someone once told me you are always going to be fat because you are type one diabetic. That sparked something inside me and motivated me to prove them wrong. It's been a little over a year and I have taken off 51 pounds and feeling great. And those two great words - Never Quit are a big part of my life. I even tattooed it on my body!”
“What motivates me is someone saying you could never be SEAL, etc. Also, I always tell myself everyone else is way stronger then me so I train even harder. Thinking about when I’m in the middle of boot camp, this one workout I am about to do will help ease the pain.”
“What motivates me to train is the picture/memory of what I felt like and looked like when training was not important to me. I make the pictures of being an out of shape fatty very big and up close in front of my face... and tie not working out to going back to that state. I combine that with a long-term and short-term goal for WHY I need to be fit right now (short-term: mud race or PT Test / long-term: protecting my family). So if I'm not motivated to work out, I use those reasons. I've also tied the sound of my stopwatch starting to the start of working out. As soon as I hit that button, it's like Pavlov's dog - it's time to START!”
“When I don't feel like moving it's usually because I'm down and/or don't feel good. So I tell myself if I just do something, I'll feel better. And I do, even if it was a short workout. On the worse days, I give myself permission to quit after 15 minutes. We've all heard this but it's true, most of life is just showing up!”
“On the days that I don't feel like training yet know that I should: I train to prove to myself that I am mentally tough enough to do what needs to be done in spite of not wanting to do it or feeling my absolute best. I act as if my own mind is trying to psyche me out and force me to be a quitter. so, I have to conquer my inner demons and temporary emotional weakness and do the work.”
“Working towards a goal that I'm emotionally invested in, that’s my driver. When I don’t feel like training I revisit the 'why' behind my training and the impact it has on my long term objective. Target the emotional driver and invest yourself in it.”
“I will do mostly lifting, distance running, sprinting, and stamina work. I figure I have one life, one body, and I want it to be a good one. My motivation is: I just want to constantly make myself better. And, I don't ever want to be in a nursing home.”
“Because others say "I can't"...therefore...I WILL.”
“I guess it's the fear of being weak for me and failing. My stomach turns when I think about a few of my buddies pulling their weight when we're doing group workouts and I can't keep up or finish, for me that's what motivates me when I'm feeling lazy.”
“The Mirror... Can't lie to yourself.”
“At those times the hardest part is showing up. I tell myself it’s better to have a crappy, unmotivated workout than no workout at all. Then, once I'm warmed up and into the workout I usually pick up steam and feel more motivated.”
“For me, it's a grind. Motivation comes after a set or two.”
“What if? That is what has always motivated me. I usually start a self-talk with what if… then I fill in the blank. So, what if I run 10 miles today, how will that make me a stronger athlete.”
“My inner demon is competing with my younger self and time. The stopwatch is what I try to beat every day. Hitting a PR that I held 20 years ago is a big win for me and the journey back there is fun too!”
And Finally…
Question: What motivates you to train every day?
Great Sayings – There are many great sayings / self-talk out there that can motivate us to train hard. I personally have used “Train to Compete – Not Just Survive,” when striving to push through physical and mental barriers. Another one that is borderline serious and somewhat humorous as well is, "Stronger people are harder to kill than weaker people and more useful in general." (Mark Rippetoe). Both of these and many, many others will help focus you to push through the minimum standards in life and reach your maximum potential. (Stew Smith)
“These are some things I find that motivate me.
1. I am training to be better than the guy in front of me. Small goals lead to big goals. If I am not training someone else is and if I am going only half my potential I am limiting myself to half my strength.
2. No excuses! You have to put in time if it's a little bit or a lot either way you have to do it. The minute you start procrastinating and making excuses, the more likely you are to spend the rest of the day making excuses and not reaching your goals.
3. Don't assume you can do something if you haven't done it already. When you quit for whatever reason or you just can't do it either way you failed. Admit it and work even harder don't convince yourself you would have passed. It might seem being hard on yourself, but really it’s just a little kick in the backside not to get to comfortable where you are, but to aim higher.
4. Don't be soft on yourself. When you start feeling sorry for yourself it's just making things harder for you. Remind yourself that you are better than that you can and will succeed.
5. Think positive! Don't view the workouts as something that's hard view it as a challenge that you can overcome find joy in the pain.
I will stop here but the list never ends. The most important thing I can say is find that fire inside of you that motivates you don't let it die and don't let it burn out.”
With Motivation Comes Discipline and Mental Toughness
Having daily motivation and a reason of why to train hard or do what you have to do, you build a certain amount of mental toughness. Persistence pays off in many, many ways. Check out the next level of Motivation.
Top Ten List of Traits for Mental Toughness
After some thought and discussions with some highly motivated, successful, mentally tough people, we came up with this.
Mental Toughness – How do we obtain it? Make it stronger?
Many young people ask these questions of me each day and I wish it was a simple answer. I wish you could be mentally tough by figuring out a magic solution of phrases or training programs. But it is not that simple. Being mentally tough requires you to keep competing when your mind wants you to quit. Humans have a “safety switch” in our brain that tells us to stop in order to prevent us from hurting ourselves. We are natural born survivors built to conserve our energy, store food, and just simply live to survive another day. There are times you can actually shut that part of your brain off. When you do this, you realize your body is ten times stronger than your brain will let it be. Training programs in the Special Operations world helps you tap into this mindset, but often your life experiences and habits can build a mental toughness and resilience that no one can beat.
Here is a top ten list of common denominators in many people I know who have accomplished great things in their lives and continue to keep moving onto bigger and greater goals:
Daily Persistence / Focus – Never Stop! Do what you have to do every day even when you are tired, feel lazy, etc. It does not matter if it is physical training, studying for a test, working to a deadline, or just getting out of bed every day with a positive attitude – do it no matter what. Make MOVING a habit. You may find all you needed was a good meal and hydration to give you the energy required to stay focused and finish or start a new task.
No one becomes mentally tough overnight. It takes a lifetime. Some of the toughest people I have met in my life know they have some level of toughness, but still say they have to work at it every day. In the Navy SEAL Creed, there is a line that says, “I have to earn it (the trident) every day.”
Stay Motivated: Why do you put yourself through painful training, long hours working or studying? YOU have to answer this question – not me. It is no one’s job to motivate you, it is all SELF-MOTIVATION that keeps you moving. Have goals that you see each day getting closer and closer one step at a time into fruition. Prepare mentally for the weeks, months, or even years required to get to where you want to be one day. You cannot do any of this without MOTIVATION.
Have a quote that resonates with you – There are many great motivating quotes to get and keep you going. Here are some of my favorites when I need that extra affirmation:
1 – “Mental Toughness is finding the fuel when the tank is empty.”
(My favorite – it defines mental toughness in so many ways)
2 – “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
3 – “If you are going through Hell – keep going.”
4 – “Never Quit.”
5 – “Go for it now – the future is promised to no one.”
These are basically performance cues used by sports psychologists at every level of performance. There are many, many more to find for yourself. Find one that works for you. Find a poster / make a poster – see it every day. Say it when you need it.
Train to Compete – Not Just Survive: In relation to special ops training programs, athletic events, or even business — this is the biggest difference in those who graduate training or succeed and those who do not. You should try to be in the type of shape and mindset that will allow you to win or be in the top 10% of the class in many events — at least some. Too many of us, in general, just get by each day “putting in their time” and barely living. Knowing that you are stuck in survival mode is a realization that can be the first step to learning how to change your life and compete for the first time in your life.
I developed this saying, shortly before I ran a marathon - for the first and last time. My goal was to finish a 26 mile run. I saw a skinny kid from Africa warming up and I realized he was about to run the same race as I was but his goal was to drop a minute off his best time. My goal was to survive the event. Who has a better chance and finishing the race? The kid who was in competition mode – not me. I succeeded with my goal and was able to use the “Compete – not just Survive” quote many times that day and ever since in my life.
Dissociation Training: There is a fine line between mental toughness and stupid, but when it is a life or death situation, there is no stupid method if it keeps you alive. Basically, how much pain, discomfort, and even fear can you play with? That is an immeasurable element of success. Dissociation refers to being able to take instructors yelling at you, cold water freezing you, sand chaffing you, and exhaustion slowing you AND not let it get into your head. There is a bit of “find your happy place” in these dissociation skills, but you still have to be focused on the mission at hand and not just be some zombie who cannot follow orders stuck in some Zen state. Maybe it is just being SO FOCUSED on the mission at hand – nothing else matters. That is why I put Daily Persistence and Focus as the #1 trait.
You can practice this skill with mundane, monotonous, long workouts like long runs, rucks, swims, high repetition pyramid PTs that can get pretty boring if you do not have an ability to think of something else besides counting reps, miles, and time.
Laugh: Finding humor in what happens to you daily is one of the best ways to get through the daily grind. Find humor in what challenges you. You would be surprised when going through a stressful event how a humorous comment or action will lighten the mood and keep you focused on the task at hand. In a group setting, finding humor and laughing can bond a team together like nothing else. By yourself, you have to laugh as it will help change your mood, gather yourself and get over any negative thoughts you may be having at the time.
Know your Weakness – Make it a Strength: You have to have a level of internal awareness and realize there will be things you are not naturally good at doing. I have found that when working on my weaknesses that I have to check in and use a certain level of mental toughness to keep going than if working on something I was naturally good at doing. For instance, prior to SEAL training, I was a powerlifting football player whose idea of long distance running was anything greater than 100 yards. It took me years, to get my running times down to where I could actually compete or at least stay in the middle of the pack of my class when doing beach runs. Running was something that I had to check in mentally each time I ran, where-as the calisthenics and swimming were not something that challenged me as much. Even this day, running is something I have to focus on to “stay in the pack”.
Plan your Dive – Dive Your Plan: In training, we learned how to “Dirt Dive”. This is a simple walk-through of a mission where we take each phase of the mission step by step and discuss how we achieve the desired outcome. Discussing and creating contingency plans is one of the outcomes that helps us to be immediately flexible in case something goes wrong. Create different routes for you to achieve your goal. There may be 3–4 different ways to get from point A to point B. Consider every possibility and don’t get discouraged if your original plan fails. Move onto plan B or even plan C. STAY FOCUSED ON THE END GOAL.
Big Goals with Sub-Goals: We all want to be successful in what we do. One event in my life that I knew was going to be a kick in the nuts was Hell Week – a 120+ hour evolution at SEAL training that requires everything out of you to complete. You eat every six hours with little or no sleep breaks the entire week. I knew if I broke up the week into twenty — 6 hour segments, it mentally seemed more obtainable that one 120+ hour / 5 day event. Parallel this in the business world by keeping track of weekly, monthly, quarterly goals and the next thing you know your annual projections can also be obtained even if you have to change course to get there. But you won’t know to change course if you do not assess. Remember — “you get what you inspect, not what you expect.”
Stay Positive: Positive thinking and planning goes a long way. If it is not in the schedule or plan it does not exist so make sure you stay positive with your planning and actions. You will always have negative thoughts and doubts that pop into your head every now and then. A trick to quit having obtrusive, negative thoughts is called “Name it and Tame it”. The next time a negative thought or doubt pops into your head or spoken by another on your team, give it a silly name like “dumbass”. Then tell yourself out loud so you say it and hear it, “I can’t think about “dumbass” anymore.” This may take a few rounds of practice, but it works to help you stay positive. Naming a thought takes away its power and shows you that you have control of your fears and anxiety. That is powerful.
This mental toughness top ten list works for many people I consider successful, motivated, and mentally tough that I interviewed for this article. I hope this list helps you. By no means are mental toughness tips and attributes limited to my top ten list. There are countless ways to build your mental toughness and resilience that will help you stay motivated, thinking positive, and handle stress / adversity throughout the rest of your life.
Hang in there — and never, never give up.
Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
After recent conversations with a few different Special Ops friends (Army SF, SEAL, Delta, UK Army Commando), we all agreed that to really be one of the few who graduate Special Ops training, you eventually have to do one thing without care:
"GET COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE"
I first heard it worded that way by friend and former Navy SEAL Don Shipley who runs a tactical training program in Virginia that is extremely SEAL-like. I think this term applies to so much; not just in military and other special ops areas, but in life as well.
This phrase really is the Key to Building Mental Toughness. You do not get mentally tough overnight, nor do you get inspired one day and magically become mentally tough. You build it every day. Here are some examples of little ways you can start building mental toughness for anything you do in life using the mantra "getting comfortable being uncomfortable."
Wake up early to train, work, etc. – No matter what you are waking up early to do, it is difficult to get out of a comfortable bed when under a warm quilt at zero dark thirty to do anything. Doing something that will also cause discomfort to your body like military PT, running, sports team practice (first of a two a day), finishing homework and studying, or to do a job you do not like. All of these are examples of a way to build mental toughness each day of your life. You can start this early in high school and be well-prepared for whatever post-high school route you take. But you are never too old to get moving when you just don't feel like it.
Try Something New – Going to new places, meeting new people, doing new things usually brings a measure of discomfort. Pushing through the initial sticky point of thinking, "maybe another day," will take you another step further and open your world to new options, opportunities, and possibly a new path in life. Usually a new chapter in your life means the end of a previous chapter. Be bold and turn the page. Every page you turn builds another day of mental toughness that you did not have yesterday. The Only Easy Day was Yesterday right?
Moving toward a Goal – Believe it or not, just moving will help you build mental toughness. It is easy to stay still, get comfortable doing nothing, and accomplish very little. It takes guts to start moving and producing a day that takes you one step closer to your goal. It does not matter what that goal is. It can be to get bigger, faster, stronger, smarter, or closer to finishing a project, writing a book, or preparing for a job interview. Moving toward a goal helps you get tougher every day. Don't be the person that lets the grass grow under your feet. Keep moving – don't stay idle.
Cold, Wet, Sandy, Hot, Humid, Underwater, Ski-diving, etc – If you're in the military or a special ops program, you will be uncomfortable in so many ways. You have to realize that there is nothing you can do about it except let it be a part of you. At SEAL training, we were wet and sandy every day. It honestly felt weird after training when my pants or even my bed did not have sand in them. Getting over fears of heights and water are huge to building mental toughness and confidence to advance in life.
Find Ways to Get Comfortable – SEAL Story! If you go through SEAL training, you will know you have made it when during the third to fourth day of Hell Week, and after winning a race, you get to rest because "it pays to be a winner." For 10-15 minutes, you and your BUD/S classmates in your boat crew huddle up in a spooning formation while the instructor places an overturned inflatable boat over your team. Your team's body heat warms each other and stays captured in the boat acting like a tent. Even though you are still wet, horizontal in a bed of sand, it is the most comfortable you have even been in your life. If you can get to that level of finding comfort within a heap-load of discomfort, you have made it.
So whatever your goal is, chase it and find yourself being uncomfortable. At the same time, watch your confidence soar and mental toughness grow. That is how to build mental toughness – through hard, daily work and not remaining idle.
Make getting uncomfortable a challenge – both a mental and physical challenge that you win daily. Stay Motivated!
Closing Remarks
Open Invitation - FREE Workouts!
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GOOD LUCK
Good luck with your next program and remember to consult your physician first before starting any program if you have not exercised in several months or years. If you need help with any fitness related questions please feel free to email me.
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