What I Learned From Reading David Goggins
I recently finished both of David Goggins’s books, Can’t Hurt Me, and Never Finished. Goggins is a former U.S. Navy SEAL and now an ultramarathon athlete and smokejumper. I don’t fully subscribe to his philosophy, but here are some lessons that stood out to me:
From Can’t Hurt Me
-We have thousands of thoughts every day. If you’re going to think that much, make those thoughts about things within your control, instead of things you can’t control.
-Treat memories of past accomplishments like cookies in a cookie jar. Reach into the cookie jar of past accomplishments (even small ones) to get you through challenges you’re facing now.
-Don’t celebrate too early. Including in your mind. Finish the course first. Goggins admits to making that mistake when trying out for Delta Force.
-Don’t bask in your accomplishments too long. Get back at it — there’s more to improve. Be willing to be “the idiot in the classroom again.” Goggins says he wakes up everyday as though he’s at day one of Naval SEAL training. One of his mottos is “peaceful but never satisfied.” In U.S. Army Ranger school (which Goggins completed) you have to prove yourself all over again, regardless of rank or previous accomplishments. Everyone is stripped of rank during the course.
