Steal This Navy Seal Mindset When Attacking Your 2023 Goals
Here's why most people give up on their resolutions by February
If you want to achieve big and important things, the journey will be unclear and scary.
The psychologist Ben Hardy says, “the emotional need for clarity and fear of the unknown leads people to abandon their dreams for more straightforward pursuits in less demanding environments.”
In his book “Willpower Doesn’t Work,” he writes:
“Clarity does not mean you have it all figured out. It means you’re clear on the next step or two. If you’re at mile marker 1 and your dream is at mile marker 50, you just need enough info and support to get to mile marker 3 or 4. Once you get there, you’ll need further instruction.”
Most people will set a goal for mile marker 50, but when they realize they’re only at mile 1, they quit.
Here’s a story to consider if you find yourself mentally blocked at mile 1.
The podcaster Jocko Willink recently talked about how Navy Seals mentally prepare for their 5.5 nautical miles swim during HUD/s training.
The swim is one of their most challenging tests because candidates spend 4–5 hours in freezing, shark-infested coastal waters. It’s also during the second phase of their training, which means everyone is mentally and physically checked out.
How do they not psyche themselves out?
They don’t think about the entire swim.
Buoys along the route to help guide the candidates. Their goal is to make it to the next buoy as efficiently as possible. That’s their goal. The next goal becomes the next buoy. And on and on and on.
Take the information and support you have in front of you, take action, and make it to the next buoy.