I’ve been listening to Andrew Huberman’s interview of David Goggins for like a week. It’s been hard to get through. This particular episode is called “David Goggins: How to Build Immense Internal Strength?”
David Goggins’ Practice
David Goggins cusses…he cusses a lot…like a lot, a lot. However, that’s not what made it hard to get through. Or rather that’s not the only reason. It was hard to listen to him call himself “lazy”, “dumb”, etc. At one point, he says something like “God wanted to see what a lazy, fat, dumb person could do on earth and that’s why he was created.” He says it matter of fact. He’s not mad or playing the victim. It’s just a fact. And that’s what made it hard to get through.
I couldn’t wrap my head around that God intentionally created someone lazy, fat, dumb, etc. And it was harder still to accept that Goggins’ accepted this version of my God. I listened to it enough to hear the question that spurs Goggins. And that is “How does he show up as the greatest version of himself?” in every millisecond, every second, every minute. And for him that requires embracing suffering as required, rather than seeing suffering as optional.
Personal Practice
Yesterday, I began grappling with that question for myself as in “What is today’s greatest version of myself?” And “how do I set myself up to show up as that version every millisecond, every second, every minute?” This week it means starting at least 6-days with cardio while listening to a devotional for 5-10 minutes. It means pushing past the mental chatter to get to the point where I only hear the word of God and my breathing. It means getting to the point where I’m not considering how my odor, my form, or my grunts are being experienced by the people around me. And its in that practice that I hope to connect with the greatest version of myself. That idea sounded great.
What if that process takes too long? Or what if it’s not enough? I’m 48 years young. David Goggins started this process in his 20’s. And today he’s a multi-millionaire. I don’t have decades. My circle doesn’t have decades for me to get there. And then today I read that Larry Allen, Dallas Cowboys legend, died suddenly at the age of 52. And now I’m really wondering if it’s enough.
If I don’t act with more urgency, my impact will be less than God designed. So now, I’m back to grappling. And trying to figure out how to push my tribe, how to inspire more to take action, and how to not give up on people. In 2018, when I left my dream career in higher education a Full Focus Journal helped create structure. Perhaps, it’s time for me to restart my 2024 Full Focus Journal. I’ll keep you posted
Affiliate link to Full Focus Journal: https://amzn.to/3yJAcCh
Leave a Reply