10 Life Lessons From A Navy Seal

[TheDamageUndone]

To me the best part is number 10.


"Finally, in SEAL training there is a bell. A brass bell that hangs in the center of the compound for all the students to see.

All you have to do to quit—is ring the bell. Ring the bell and you no longer have to wake up at 5 o’clock. Ring the bell and you no longer have to do the freezing cold swims.

Ring the bell and you no longer have to do the runs, the obstacle course, the PT—and you no longer have to endure the hardships of training.

Just ring the bell.

#10. If you want to change the world don’t ever, ever ring the bell."


Oh, the times I've been on the point of giving up! In particular Med school. But a voice always came to my mind, asking then what? So I knew I had to keep going. I regret nothing. No one could regret not giving up. Awesome post, didn't know about it, will be on of my top 3 bookmarks. Thank you.

That is truly inspirational. I have a message that provokes a great deal of hate and anger in people. But my focus is driven by such a force that I cannot ring the bell. It would be easier to just quietly do what I had to to help my child and not to take a stand. I owe it to him to keep going because I do want to change the world. Not so much for me, but for my children. I will not ring the bell.

 

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[JustAskBenWhy]

That is truly inspirational. I have a message that provokes a great deal of hate and anger in people. But my focus is driven by such a force that I cannot ring the bell. It would be easier to just quietly do what I had to to help my child and not to take a stand. I owe it to him to keep going because I do want to change the world. Not so much for me, but for my children. I will not ring the bell.

It seems that my life is just a series of "do I or don't I ring this damn bell..?" So far so good, but we don't know what it means to be strong until we have to be strong!

 

[jon.a]

It seems that my life is just a series of "do I or don't I ring this damn bell..?" So far so good, but we don't know what it means to be strong until we have to be strong!

Most folks have no clue.

 

[Filipe]

This is absolute pure gold! Thanks @Vigilante !

 

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[Richie_Sage]

Man... I have nothing else to say. Just a lot to do.

 

[MatthewPL]

Brilliant thread @Vigilante.

It might sound like big words, but successfull people NEVER GIVE UP and it's the key to whole life.

The main factor of the puzzle is PERSEVERANCE.

That was my 2 cents.

 

[Vigilante]

Most folks have no clue.

I think most people have it deep within them.

Some of them are never in a position where they have to find it.

Most don't know what they are capable of.

Some live a lifetime never reaching deep enough.

 

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[Richie_Sage]

I think most people have it deep within them.

Some of them are never in a position where they have to find it.

Most don't know what they are capable of.

Some live a lifetime never reaching deep enough.

If I might ask, what's your opinion on introversion? is it easier for such people or more difficult to find what they are capable of? after all, they are more sensitive to outside stimulus because of their high reaction temperaments and over stimulated amygdalas.

 

[Vigilante]

If I might ask, what's your opinion on introversion? is it easier for such people or more difficult to find what they are capable of? after all, they are more sensitive to outside stimulus because of their high reaction temperaments and over stimulated amygdalas.

I'm not educated enough nor intellectual enough to have an opinion much deeper than my own experiences.

 

[Kingmaker]

If I might ask, what's your opinion on introversion? is it easier for such people or more difficult to find what they are capable of? after all, they are more sensitive to outside stimulus because of their high reaction temperaments and over stimulated amygdalas.

Read the book "Quiet" by Susan Cain which MJ mentioned in this post: https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/co...ut-with-a-quick-test.53351/page-3#post-410877

In a nutshell, being an introvert is not an excuse for inaction, but a cue that you might have to do some things differently than extroverts to get optimal performance out of yourself, and make peace with that.

 

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[Richie_Sage]

Read the book "Quiet" by Susan Cain which MJ mentioned in this post: https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/co...ut-with-a-quick-test.53351/page-3#post-410877

In a nutshell, being an introvert is not an excuse for inaction, but a cue that you might have to do some things differently than extroverts to get optimal performance out of yourself, and make peace with that.

Yeah, well I was wondering how it would look like looking from this perspective. Thanks for suggestion, I'll finish it quick!

 

[hatzil]

so inspiring ,so true and deep. im so happy that when i read it, it reminds me past events and i get emotional ,that i know i been through changes for things i believe in. i respect you for this post, and all the rare people i find in this forum that gives me so much value, thank you.

 

[doinkdedoink]

I think most people have it deep within them.

Some of them are never in a position where they have to find it.

Most don't know what they are capable of.

Some live a lifetime never reaching deep enough.

Thanks for the link @Vigilante, great read.
It's sad that most people aren't willing to put themselves in a vulnerable position to find out what they are capable of, your post sums up for the most part why I joined the Army. I was 22, life was heading in no direction besides partying and pointless shit so one day I just drove over to the recruiters office and joined. I wanted to put myself in the worst possible situation I could think of, because I figured if I could get through that then everything else in life would be much easier.

#10 is a really good one, sadly far too many people "ring that bell". The worst part is that once someone does it, it becomes much easier for everyone else with doubts to follow along. I think that's why 99% of our society is okay for just settling to be in the slowlane, everyone else is so why not? It's a whole lot easier.

It's kind of sad to watch people "ring that bell" though, and find out they didn't have what it takes. I was 3 months out of basic training when I got sent to Iraq, for those 3 months before we deployed my squad leader was busting our a$$ all day, everyday, preaching to not give up and to have each others backs etc... Well, he was the first one to ring the bell, after going out on missions for 1 week he tried to hang himself, unsuccessfully. After that our medic tried killing himself, then his replacement tried the same, it was a vicious cycle. By the end of our 1 year deployment, our platoon of about 40 guys had 8 guys "ring the bell", they all get sent home pretty much immediately after attempting suicide, none of them that I know of had any success after that, they all went in downward spirals because they all took the easy route out.

Moral of the story is, never ring that F*cking bell. All you'll be doing is letting yourself down and usually others around you. If they had all just manned up and continued on they would have probably had successful careers and it would have transferred out into civilian life too. I'm willing to bet most of them regret there decision.

 

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[Jake]

Moral of the story is, never ring that F*cking bell.

When I was out in Q-West, Iraq a guy decided to ring the bell via M16 in the mouth..

Glad you made it back safe. Sounds like you had a rough deployment.

 

[JokerCrazyBeatz]

Such a great speech

 

[Get Right]

@doinkdedoink , I think you are going to do well here.

 

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[devine]

1979, I had re-enlisted in the Navy after a 2 year break, to clear my head. I had a goal to retire at a certain level. I had been given an opportunity that would put me on that track. I was going through Aircrew School in Pensacola FL. It was mostly physical, heavy on swimming. Really heavy on swimming. I was a "non-swimmer" and there were 11 intense swimming tests. I failed the first 4 and was set back to the next class starting 2 weeks later.

The Chief that ran the school called me into his office and explained that because I was a Vet and he didn't want me to just quit, he was providing me with 1 on 1 training to improve my swimming. The next morning I met my instructor. A SEAL, Chief Petty Officer. He was built like a fire plug. Nothing but muscles. Calm and soft spoken. The most intimidating person that I have ever met.

Lesson one was, "what can you do?"

"I can float and tread water some"

"Show me"

I did, it was okay.

Lesson two, he threw a 10 pound weight into the deep end.

"Go get it"

"shit, okay chief"

"don't get out of the pool"
"get back in the middle and tread water with it"

"shit, okay chief"

I struggled, floundered and dropped the weight.

"you're trying to kill me"

"I'm not authorized to kill you"
"go get your weight"
"if you die or get out of the pool, you fail"
"relax, the fear is all in your mind"
"if you don't quit on me, I won't let you fail"

8 years later, I was a Chief. Later a Senior Chief, my original goal.
I owed my career to that SEAL.

This is deep.
Made me realize that this weight we dive with, eventually, is all we really have.

 

[jon.a]

This is deep.
Made me realize that this weight we dive with, eventually, is all we really have.

What?

 

[devine]

What?

If you would just give up and get out of the pool, you wouldn't become what you are.
Right?

 

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[jon.a]

If you would just give up and get out of the pool, you wouldn't become what you are.
Right?

There are several points to the story. I let everyone get what they get from it.
I'll bet if I had made it a thread, we would have many lessons discussed.

My point of posting it was more respect for my teacher, the SEAL.
He taught me to be a better leader.

 

[devine]

There are several points to the story. I let everyone get what they get from it.
I'll bet if I had made it a thread, we would have many lessons discussed.

My point of posting it was more respect for my teacher, the SEAL.
He taught me to be a better leader.

Indeed, resonates differently with different people.
Thank you for posting this, I learned a lot of lessons from your posts here at TFLF.

 

[dave773]

One of my secondary goals this year was a physical goal. I'm not overweight, but I want to reduce my BF% and get much stronger.

I made it a secondary goal because if I achieved my main goal and not my secondary i would not be bothered and still feel incredibly fulfilled.

There is only 24 hrs in the day and I thought that if I was physically exerting myself regularly - it would affect my ability to focus, learn and maybe put too much on my plate that I could handle. Couple this with having to work a job that requires physical effort and being quick, my exercise always took a backseat and I would only do it 2-3 times a week.

All this information about catabolic state, anabolic state, feeding windows, you need this much sleep, you need to avoid overtraining, low reps for big gains, high reps for conditioning etc.. puts a psychological barrier on what you can do. Maybe it would be better if we didn't have this information and simply modeled ourselves after the hardest worker in the room.

But actually I don't know and am slightly confused as to what I will do. I don't want to take away from achieving my main goal.

Anyway..

Truly a great speech, bookmarked it. Also really enjoyed your story Jon, thank you.

 

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[DeletedUser86]

I was in country for a while when I was sent to a FOB. I get off the C130 and was greeted by a middle-aged man with a little male-patterned baldness. He looked like a taller, buff Steve Carell without the goofy expressions. We greet and I throw my shit into the back of the Hillux. The guy I was relieving was in the passenger side so I hopped in the back seat. We head out of the airport-usually I'm not a backseat driver but I did notice he was going 55 as we passed the 35 MPH sign. I didn't want my new home to start off on the wrong foot so I casually said something. Without any change in his calm voice he said "what are they going to do, send me to Iraq?" I couldn't help but laugh, but his coolness helped put me at ease. They show me the accommodations and we stop in at our little HQ if you will. The very first think I noticed as I walked in was a training manual for an MP5, just seeing it gave me goosebumps a little. This was the real deal

In between missions we had this little rec room, the comms guys had it hooked up with a big screen and a Playstation and we were playing some Mercenaries 2. The main character of this game is the epitome of what a 13 year old would consider bad a$$-viking looking guy with a mohawk and covered in tattoos. "Steve" watched on as one of the guys was playing, just chilling on the couch laid back with his hands behind his head and in his unwavering calm voice says "wow, that guy has a lot of tattoos"

What I had expected-the typical dick-measuring contest you usually get from other service members, was no where to be found. You were a part of their team and you performed a highly critical job-they couldn't do their job if you didn't do yours. There was no stupid petty bullshit or posturing you would expect from males trying to 'alpha' one another. I'm not saying I didn't experience that, just not from them. These guys were the true badasses, but they didn't have to prove it to you, and you could just SENSE it. These guys were as humble as they were intelligent and I can only imagine the ways they could kill someone

As in the OP this world is filled with sharks, show no fear and if they circle you stand your ground. Remain calm especially under pressure-this is how I carry myself now after the experience. Also, physical training should not end once you get out; as they say it's better to be a warrior in a garden. This combination has done me well in dealing with civilians and would-be bullies. That supervisor that calls you out in front of a group, expecting to intimidate you like he does the others-look at him dead in the eyes and respond with an even calmer voice than you normally have. Works wonders

 

[Elijah ola]

It take discipline to disciple oneself. until you discipline you'll not achieve distinctions in your career. until that day in which I started to learn the word DISCIPLINE,than the dream show up.
Men of purpose are men of principles. without workable principles,life's visions and goals set can never come to pass.
Achievement is not in what you earn but in what you make. Be a maker,be a creator by obtaining the creating skill.

 

[jon.a]

Wondering how many innocent people such heroes killed while "changing the world"...

Appreciate life, folks! If you need a warrior motivation watch Rambo. But please don't let these real life murderers become your heroes...

OMMFG!
Did you just really do that?

 

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[Daniel A]

On a brighter note. Admiral William H. McRaven recently published a book titled Make Your Bed.



Make Your Bed - Kindle edition by William H. McRaven. Self-Help Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

 

[Elijah ola]

Yes Make your bed...

 

[Elijah ola]

It take discipline to disciple oneself. until you discipline you'll not achieve distinctions in your career. until that day in which I started to learn the word DISCIPLINE,than the dream show up.
Men of purpose are men of principles. without workable principles,life's visions and goals set can never come to pass.
Achievement is not in what you earn but in what you make. Be a maker,be a creator by obtaining the creating skill.

You'll become more happier in a year when the collections of your decisions are right and good.

 

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[Elijah ola]

You'll become more happier in a year when the collections of your decisions are right and good.

Give others what they can't find elsewhere, and your presence will always be their patronage. To keep people constantly with you,you'll need to display frequently new things of good attraction which they can't find around except found at great distance.

 

[pds]

I can't believe I've never come across this before. Just read it and it got me so fired up.

All it takes is flipping the switch in your mind to Love the Pain... Embrace the Suck. Remind yourself that the pain and shit you're going through is both expected and there to toughen you up. You're fortunate to face this because once the temporary discomfort fades, you're stronger, smarter and more experienced than ever before. More circuses, More growth.

Thanks for sharing @Vigilante