If you haven’t heard of David Goggins, he’s an author and motivational icon. His philosophy?
You can master your mind and force yourself to do really shitty things. It’s his way of saying:
“Build mental calluses.”
“Conquer your inner bitch.”
“Shut up, and do it.”
This tough approach doesn’t work for a lot of people. I rarely use these techniques in my coaching or my own life.
But even though this gritty way of thinking doesn’t resonate with most, doesn’t mean he’s wrong. We do have a genuine ability to strengthen our mental toughness like a muscle.
I’ve experienced this by taking freezing cold showers, running a marathon after my legs stopped working, and getting destroyed night after night in Brazilian Jiujitsu.
Everybody’s different. Sometimes we need to be nurtured and guided through our decisions and habits. Sometimes, someone needs to grab us by the shoulders and tell us to stop being a bitch and just do the damn thing.
I didn’t really start to improve my life until I heard people I respect tell me to stop whining and start taking action toward the things that matter in life.
The balance between nurture and toughness will vary for everyone. How often should someone give us this tough approach?
No, not every time. But not never either.