Tag Archives: Self-help

Never Finished

“While most people stop when they’re tired, I stop when I am done.”

David Goggins

David Goggins just might be the baddest man alive. He holds the world pull-up record (4,030 in 17 hours), has 70 ultramarathons under his belt…oh, and he’s also a Navy SEAL.


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As I closed the cover of his new book Never Finished, I knew I couldn’t do it justice in a single blog post. So before we head off for the weekend, I thought I’d share just a few of my favorite moments:

Seconds of Weakness

If you’re trying to lose weight, quit drinking, anything, your moment of weakness will be counted in seconds. Winning those few seconds is everything.

When I quit smoking in 2015, I was afraid I couldn’t do it. How can I be vigilant for the rest of my life?

But David is right. Any cigarette craving was brief and transient.

We can win those few seconds. Let’s get it.

Doing Hard Things

Doing a wall sit on Sunday, I felt the familiar burn in my thighs. Mentally, I resisted it.

Oh no, it hurts, make it stop!

But then I remembered what David said. Stop looking for a sign that the hard times will end.

Just notice the feeling, and accept that that’s the sensation you have right now.

Let’s Commit

“…until you start feeling a sense of pride and self respect in the work you do, no matter how small or overlooked those jobs might be, you will continue to half-ass your life.”

David Goggins

Like anyone, there are jobs I don’t want to do. Cleaning the tub is pretty high on that list.

All that bending. Hair. Eww.

But last Sunday, I scrubbed it spic and span and it was actually fun. Because instead of counting the seconds till I was done, I enjoyed the beautiful sheen I made with my own hands.

We don’t just do better work when we take pride in what we do. We have more fun!

Sgt. Jack

As hard as he is, David is only the second baddest character in his book. The gold has to go to Sgt. Jack, his grandfather.

This steely man faced down intense bigotry. He spent his life in the Army and retired to a comfortable, paid off home filled with family.

Sgt. Jack’s hard edge almost made David think his grandpa didn’t care about him. Quite the opposite.

Sgt. Jack taught David how to work. How to take pride in what he does.

How to be a man.

His most enduring lesson?

Through hard work “you will not only level the playing field but also surpass those born with more natural ability and advantages than you. Let your hours become days, then weeks, then years of effort. Allow discipline to seep into your cells until work becomes a reflex as automatic as breathing. With discipline as your medium, your life will become a work of art. “

David Goggins

Being Grateful for Difficulty

It’s one of the hardest races on earth. The Moab 240, run yearly in Utah, lasts for days and requires an ascent approximately equal to the height of Mount Everest.

Of course, David was there.

And not only there. He was among the leaders.

But a wrong turn and a thyroid issue waylaid him. Now he wasn’t just way behind — he was seriously ill.

But David controlled his mind:

“”….I had been gifted another rare opportunity to test myself in adverse conditions and become more. “”

David Goggins

He recovered his legs and finished the race.

Tough times suck. But in our modern, flabby society, they’re also a gift.

You’re gonna love this book. Grab yourself a copy!

Now, I think I’ll have some cookies. 🙂 Have a great weekend, everyone!

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More on books:

My 2022 Reading List

Amp It Up

The Power Law (Part One)

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What Meditation Does for Me

It was March 2020 and the world was shutting down. It was the perfect time to try something new: meditation.


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Countless people tell you to meditate. But how the heck do you even do it, and why bother?

Here’s how I meditate every day, and the benefits I’ve gained.

How I Meditate

Every morning after breakfast, I sit down in this red armchair. I keep my back straight and feet flat on the floor.

I breathe in and out. I either focus on my breath or repeat a word.

You can use whatever word (or “mantra”) you like. Swami Rama suggests a few: om, amen, or shalom.

I usually go with om. Sometimes I say it out loud, other times just in my head.

Using a word can make meditation easier. For most people, it’s easier to concentrate on a word than their breath.

I continue doing this for 10 or 20 minutes. I seldom exceed 30.

Choosing Your Thoughts

Most of us inhabit our thoughts. All too often, so do I!

If we’re mad, we’re mad with our entire being. If a negative thought pops into our head, it repeats endlessly.

But increasingly, I’m able to spot that thought and stop it.

I tell myself “I don’t have to think about that.”

Then I ask myself, “What would I like to think about?” And I think of something nice, like a great dinner with friends or a cute squirrel I saw.

Your life is a lot more pleasant when you can, at least sometimes, pick what you think about!

Improved Sleep

When I can’t fall asleep, it’s often because of some repetitive thought. Perhaps I’m worried about something.

Being able to spot that looping thought and realize “I don’t have to think about that” is so freeing!

In turn, good sleep helps your brain work even better!

Relaxation

We live in a world of nonstop inputs. Information flies at us whenever we’re awake.

Meditation is an opportunity to stop all that. You won’t believe how nice that can feel, even if it’s awkward at first!

Success vs. Failure

A friend once told me he was struggling to sleep. “Have you tried meditation?” I asked?

“Yeah, I suck at it!”

The thing is, we all suck!

Mostly, we get distracted and don’t actually focus on our breath or our mantra. Instead of feeling inner peace, we think about how we forgot to buy paper towels.

But that’s okay!

This isn’t about being awesome. Just do it regularly and you’ll benefit.

I hope that even once during a meditation, I can spot my distraction and redirect myself. If I can do that, that’s wonderful!

That’s the skill we’re trying to build. We want to spot what’s in our mind and be able to redirect it.

Try It!

At first, I wasn’t sure I was getting anything from meditation. But the benefits crept up on me.

Soon enough, I found myself spotting unhelpful thoughts without even trying. When I stop them and redirect myself, it’s a wonderful feeling!

This practice has given me so much in just three years. See what it can give you!

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More on life:

How Camping is Improving My Life

A Wisconsin Summer With The People Who Matter Most

The Swami Who Taught Me About Politics

Save Money on Stuff I Use:

Fundrise

This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.

More on Fundrise in this post.

If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

Misfits Market

I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order.