I am fascinated by stories of seemingly ordinary individuals who, against all odds, accomplish great things through determination and hard work. These stories make me believe that everything is possible, even with setbacks. I first heard about David Goggins when he appeared on The Huberman Lab podcast. That three-hour recording had me captivated. While my sons had seen his accomplishments through YouTube videos, I was new to Goggins' world.
I reserved his book, "You Can’t Hurt Me," at my local library and found myself on a waitlist. Almost six months later, it was finally my turn to read this popular title. The book is captivating and surprising, and if you listen to Goggins speak in interviews, you can easily hear him narrating in your head. His communication style permeates the book, making the story authentic and engaging.
In this blog/newsletter, I chronicle my experiences living with a rare and chronic disease and strive to find universal truths. So how do I relate to such an accomplished person? Definitely not by running ultramarathons or becoming a Navy SEAL.
I find kinship in his mindset about striving to be your best, especially when it’s hard. It is in the hard things that you can “callous your mind” into becoming a stronger person. Goggins would seek out the uncomfortable and the difficult, just to build his mind into a stronger tool. He would train and complete races not to win, but to succeed at living life. He knew through personal experience that life is hard. My “hard” is sometimes being able to go grocery shopping or taking a shower.
I feel this way about my personal journey with illness. I can’t put into words how hard this is, how uncomfortable and sick I feel at times. However, every time I go through the other side of a flare-up of symptoms, I come out stronger than before. It’s the ultimate race and challenge to my mental and physical health.
I also find kinship with his no-excuses attitude. I do throw myself pity parties when the symptoms are extreme and I feel scared, but they are usually short-lived. I have always received the help I needed and feel safe in that sense. Maybe I can’t run or even drive for long periods at the moment, but I can walk slowly in my driveway or on my treadmill. I know this will pass. If it doesn not pass, and this is the new reality, I will try and make the most of it.
David Goggins’ story is not just about physical endurance but also about mental resilience. His journey teaches us that while we may not choose our struggles, we can choose how we face them. For those of us living with chronic illness, his example serves as a reminder that we can find strength in adversity and that pushing through our challenges makes us stronger in the end.
P.S.: In his book, David Goggins mentions Addison’s disease—a diagnosis his doctors once suspected but ultimately ruled out.
Bon, je viens de comprendre quelque chose d’important! Quand je vois des personnes qui poussent leurs limites, je me demande souvent pourquoi. Et quand je vois des personnes qui vivent des moments très difficiles, je me demande souvent si je serais capable de faire comme eux. Mais tu viens d’expliquer que quand on pousse nos limites, par choix ou par nécessité, on change notre « mindset » et on endurcit ce nouveau « mindset » plus positif. Ça me parait tellement simple maintenant! Bon, il ne me reste qu’à oser me lancer un nouveau défi!
Thanks Dany- You've definitely sparked my interest in his book. This hammock photo though!❤❤❤