Book 1, Post1

POST #1:

"Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds" is an autobiographical memoir written by David Goggins, an esteemed Navy Seal. This choice of reading was driven by my strong interest in personal development and mental resilience, themes that the book illustrates through Goggin's own extraordinary life story. Known mainly for his incredible feats of endurance and physical strength, Goggin's narrative is not just about these triumphs but, more importantly, about mental toughness and the ability to adapt to adversity. I was drawn to this book because it promises more than just an inspiring story of a true American hero, but it also offers a way to push past one's perceived limits, both mental and physical. And furthermore, in the world of business and real estate, these same limits can be applied. My hope in reading "Can't Hurt Me" is to absorb some of Goggin's attitude and to apply his lessons of perseverance, self-discipline, and mental fortitude to my own challenges I might face in life. 

Overall, the book is a very interesting read thus far, and I have only finished about 40% of it. His story though begins in a very different way than one might believe. From a very young age, David was demanded by his father to be the best version of himself, and David couldn't do it. He found himself depressed and overweight and was fearful of the world around him. However, through this same disappointment with where he was in life at this time, he realized that his life was what he was going to make of it. No more pressure to be somebody he wasn't and the pressure of realizing that he wanted to do more with his time on Earth, led him to begin to push himself harder than he could've imagined. He understood that life wasn't gonna wait around for him, so he went out and grabbed it by the balls. He pushed so hard that he eventually achieved what it was gonna take to become a Navy Seal. The book so far has been very intriguing, and Goggin's being a natural leader and motivator does a very good job showcasing these same traits through his words. Looking forward to fully understanding more about his mindset in the middle of the book, and what he recommends for people also looking for a way to push themselves to be the best they can be.

POST #2:

"“You are in danger of living a life so comfortable and soft, that you will die without ever realizing your true potential.” (Goggins)

As you read deeper into Goggin's story, you really began to realize what turned him into the beast he is today. His mindset, which he developed from a very young age through his own personal traumas, is what sets him apart from most people. I know it might sound cliche, but he found a way to ignore pain. He literally uses pain to fuel him. With this unique mindset, he began to no longer see obstacles as deterrents but challenges to confront head-on. Growing up Goggins was a man lost in life. Someone who had no direction, and no sense of purpose. However, with consistent routine, he found joy in the pain of working out. He embraced the fact that he could push his body further than anybody with the sheer power of his mind.

"It's a lot more than mind over matter. It takes relentless self discipline to schedule suffering into your day, every day" (Goggins)

I believe his mindset is what you need to be successful. Everyone has their own personal struggles, I know I have mine, but the quicker you can understand those struggles the better it can be for you. For example, this semester I decided to take on an internship. It's nothing crazy in terms of workload, but it does take up a lot of my week. Because of this, I'm gone from around 8:30 am until 6:30 pm, Monday through Wednesday. For the majority of my day, I'm stuck at a desk, with very little motion throughout the day. Since I can remember I've always been an active guy, but recently with this new job, I've found it hard to find time to workout. When I get home, I typically lack the motivation to workout, but when I don't workout I find myself in a very annoyed mindset. This translates directly to relationships, and just makes me feel bad about myself. However, after reading into some of the motivational quotes Goggins gives throughout his book, I've began to embrace this new schedule. I've started a new routine, waking up around 7:45, hopping on the stationary bike for 20-30 minutes, then a 10 minutes sauna/ice bath. Once I get home from work, I lift to get my blood flowing again. This new routine has really helped inspire me to be the best version of myself. I go to bed with no regrets, and I can truly say it has helped me mentally as well.

"We habitually settle for less than our best; at work, in school, in our relationships, and on the playing field or race course." (Goggins)

One of the biggest takeaways from this book is how little we expect of ourselves. Constantly I find myself taking the easy way out of situations, as I'm sure we all do. However, what do you think is gonna be the eventual ending if this is your mindset for everyday life. What are you gonna do when life comes back to bite you in the ass, and you end up hating yourself for the rest of your life. In the modern world, people are constantly tempted with an easy route to any solution. I'm guilty of this, but recently I've been trying to change this. With this mindset of ease, your never gonna be able to look yourself in the mirror and feel proud. Goggins narrative helps you understand the fact that, all you have is yourself. From the second you wake up, to the second you go to bed, you talk to yourself. Your mind can be your best friend and your worst enemy, but the better you can manage your own thoughts, the easier it is to set goals for yourself. Setting goals and looking at what you accomplish every day can be one of the best methods to ensure your getting the most out of your own self.