SEPTEMBER 2, 2022
While brother Randy and I continue our work with our Foundational Band of Brothers along with our friends nearing or already in retirement, it seems important to learn from the “BEST” (Our Navy Seals) by understanding the insights of what it takes to survive, grow, and transform young men into becoming an elite unit, by accomplishing their goals and acts of heroism in the face of daunting challenges they will each face in their lifetime. Finding your own mentor along with mentoring others will help fill your bucket. It may not be as intense as the Navy Seals, but the needed focus is still the same.
Not everyone is cut out to be a Navy Seal which is what makes them SO special. (A few good men) It takes a special kind of “Cowboy” to be drawn to this type of work. Chaos and challenges are common, expected, and trained for, with this elite group of warriors. However, you don’t have to be a Navy Seal when we will all face chaos and challenges in our own lives. Learning how to deal with them is the key. We are all thrown into chaos at one point or another and it can feel like it’s impossible to win at times. So, if you want to think like a Navy Seal, try internalizing their following; “Five Pillars of FOCUS” and you will be amazed by what you can overcome and accomplish in your own life:
- Shorten Your Time Horizon: The key here is to focus on the immediate and not worry about the end game. Have a vision for your end game but be focused on the here and now. What do you need to do right now that will help you accomplish your goals? Don’t pull future pain forward. Don’t let your mind wander towards the horizon, thinking of all the hard things to come. Have the wisdom, courage, self-mastery and love, to take life one step at a time.
- Focus outside yourself: This is one of our key themes for our Band of Brothers. Everyone is a leader in one aspect or another, and leaders focus on OTHERS. Leaders “Lift others up.” In a time of challenge, turning inward and thinking only of how hard things are just amplifies your own pain. Inwardness saps willpower and makes it harder for you AND others to achieve and succeed. Try an outward mindset by primarily being concerned about others and how to help them, even in small ways. By helping others, you help yourself. It facilitates the success of them (and your team) and will minimize your own suffering.
- Find humor in the absurdity: Even in the worst of circumstances, you need to find lightheartedness. Learn to “Laugh it off.” It is not about ignoring the enormous weight of the situation. It’s accepting the harmony of life.
- Get comfortable with being uncomfortable: The human body and our “unbreakable will” are amazing things. This is not unique to Navy Seal’s. There are many skills that you can develop. Think about someone you know battling cancer. When you go through chemotherapy, you see people that are suffering so much, not only in the disease but in the treatment. There is not a way of getting out of that discomfort except by going through it. Talk about strength of the human body and the strength of will. Think about it. (“Amor Fati” comes to mind here.)
- Practice Self-Care: Take care of yourself. (This includes your body, mind, and spirit.) “Caring about the happiness of others, we find our own.” Plato. The people in your life are depending on you. If you don’t fill yourself up, you can’t pour yourself out. Get up, get ready to be challenged, and stay in the fight. Just what Navy Seals do every day.
What are you focusing on these days? Try growing your mind, body, and spirit (along with your soul) by being intentionally focused on those things that matter most and that will last forever. Make them your top priorities. Try focusing on the Navy Seals’ “Five Pillars of Focus” by being more intentional. It won’t be easy and life will not always seem fair. But remember; life is still good.
Elevator Guy
Quote for the Day: “Focus. Otherwise, you will find life becomes a blur.” Anonymous