Are you tired of feeling stagnant in your life? Are you ready for a change but don't know how to go about it? If so, then this blog post is for you. In today's post, we will be discussing how to use pain to change your life. Many people view pain as negative, but it can be a powerful tool for growth. We will provide tips on making the most of pain and turning it into an opportunity for positive change. So read on to learn more!
In his book 'You Can't Hurt Me' David Goggins describes his story of the stress and suffering of childhood and the pain he felt regularly. In trying to run away from it, he discovered exercise and instead of avoiding pain, he embraced it. As a result, he developed control of his emotions and body, qualified as a Navy Seal, an Ultrarunner, and then a motivational speaker. Here are some of the key lessons from this book.
Goggins suffered from chronic pain in childhood and was overwhelmed by it
No one likes to feel pain, emotional or otherwise. So when we experience emotional pain, it can be tempting to avoid it at all costs. However, as David Goggins knows all too well, sometimes emotional pain is impossible to avoid.
Goggins grew up suffering from emotional pain caused by his father's violence. As a result, he was always on the lookout for ways to avoid experiencing that pain again. He would go to great lengths to distract himself and numb himself to his feelings. Unfortunately, this approach often involved overeating and gaining comfort from that. This comfort was an obvious way many of us use to blunt emotional difficulties.
However, Goggins eventually realized that he couldn't keep running from his emotional pain forever. He realized that if he wanted to truly heal, he needed to face his pain head-on. It was a hard road, and slowly but surely, Goggins began to heal the emotional wounds of his childhood.
His inability to deal with pain signals led to fear and disappointment
His inability to deal with pain led to fear, and disappointment in being overweight and stuck where he was. When he was younger, he was always the biggest kid in his class. He was never quite sure why, but he always assumed it had something to do with his metabolism.
As he got older, he realized that his weight wasn't just a matter of genetics but lifestyle as well. He started to feel self-conscious about his size and avoided social situations. His lack of confidence led to depression and anxiety. He tried dieting and exercising, but nothing seemed to work.
Then through multiple painful experiences, he realized he needed to make a change. He took a look at his life and decided to make some changes. He changed his diet, started exercising regularly, and began to see results.
Instead of giving in and making the pain worse, he used the goal of getting into the Navy Seals to drive him
When life deals us a difficult hand, it can be tempting to give in to a negative mindset. For example, we might tell ourselves that we're not good enough, that we'll never succeed, or that we don't deserve happiness. However, this type of thinking only makes the pain worse. It keeps us stuck in a cycle of self-doubt and despair, preventing us from moving forward.
Instead of indulging in a poor mindset, we can choose to focus on something positive. For example, when faced with a challenging situation, we can set a goal for ourselves and use it as motivation to keep going. This goal is what David Goggins did when he struggled to get through the Seal training program. Instead of quitting, he used the goal of becoming a Seal to drive him forward.
Focusing on something positive could push him through the pain and ultimately achieve his goal. He used the very thing that he previous feared the most, pain. Using this pain and embracing it was a way of making him emotionally bulletproof. The was no one who could hurt him. He then developed that skill and took it to the extremes.
Of course, it's not always easy to control our thoughts. Our brain is hardwired to pay more attention to negative information, and it takes practice to override this natural tendency. As a result, it is easier to sit in our comfort zones and not push ourselves towards an audacious goal.
He learned instead of blocking pain signals that, by embracing them, he could achieve greatness
Most people go through life trying to avoid pain. They do whatever they can to avoid discomfort, both physical and emotional. But as Naval Academy graduate and former Navy SEAL David Goggins learned, pain can be a powerful tool. Goggins discovered that by embracing pain and using it as a journey, he could achieve greatness.
When he started his training for the SEALs, he was significantly overweight and out of shape. But, rather than give up, he used the pain of his workouts as motivation to get in better shape. And when he was deployed to Iraq, he used the pain of combat as a way to stay alive.
Goggins' experience shows that pain doesn't have to be something to avoid. Instead, it can be a helpful tool if you know how to use it effectively. So the next time you're facing a difficult situation, remember Goggins' advice and use pain to help you cope and achieve your goals.
With hard work and the right mindset, anyone can emulate his success
David Goggins is an inspirational figure who embodies the power of hard work and a positive mindset. His journey from humble beginnings to ultramarathon champion and best-selling author is a testament to what can be achieved when you set your mind to it. Goggins' success is built on hard work and an ability to embrace the pain.
He has inspired people worldwide to change their lives for the better and chase their dreams. Looking to the future, there is no doubt that Goggins will continue to motivate and inspire people to reach their full potential.
What does this mean for me?
As human beings, we often sit in our comfort zones, whether that is in fitness, relationships, career, finance or any area. As our emotions often dictate our actions, the need to avoid pain is often greater than pushing through the pain or discomfort to achieve our goals.
This pain comes in many forms (emotional, physical, etc.), from many different sources (disease, psychological, work, home life, etc.) and at many different stages. Often we need to work hard to deal with the painful experience and focus on what matters most rather than being overwhelmed by it. Unfortunately, this approach is often easier said than done.
The key lesson this book offers is how to use the thing you fear the most, whether pain relief, stress, suffering, grief, feelings of inadequacy etc., and turn them into your superpower. Of course, this change doesn't happen overnight but learning this life skill is a game-changer and the insight this book offers.
Actionable Steps:
- Which areas in your life are you staying firmly in your comfort zones? What is stopping you from stepping outside them, pain? Fear of rejection? Something else?
- Take that negative emotion or feeling, and what would your world look like if no one could use that against you?
- Do this exercise in all of the important areas of your life - health, family, finance, work, friendships etc.
- Buy this book - it is right up there with some of the best. He also does a great audiobook version where he goes right off-script in telling his story.
- For more articles like this, sign-up and subscribe to: www.diarmaidmcmenamin.com or https://diarmaidmcmenamin.medium.com/subscribe
Good luck on your journey!
Diarmaid
