In honor of Veterans Day and in the continuing pursuit of authentic manhood, I decided to focus on the The United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land forces, commonly known as the Navy SEAL. The SEALS are the Special Operations Forces of the United States Navy, employed in direct action and special reconnaissance operations. SEALs are also capable of undertaking unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, hostage rescue, counter-terrorism, and other missions. There’s a common misconception that the primary qualifications to be a SEAL are how long you can hold your breath and how tough you are. The reality is that SEALs are actually quiet, intelligent and highly focused individuals.
Here is a list of SEAL characteristics that any man would do well to incorporate into their lives.
1. Put Teammates first
“This is an exoteric responsibility, that is imparting to someone else and it’s missing from our culture. When you are acting esoterically, you are acting ethically. “How do I treat others?”, “How do I fit into the team?”, “What is my responsibility?” Ask yourself these questions, no matter your profession.:
2. Second-guess yourself
“We all have monkey brains. We think terrible things sometimes. Quitting, abandoning something important to us. But don’t let that disturb you too much, because it happens to everyone. Who you really are is your second or even third thought.”
3. Allow yourself to fear.
“Some people become afraid and they find it overwhelming. When that happens, reach out to family, friends, or colleagues. Fear is a shared experience, you’ll get a lot of energy from the people around you. Being okay with being afraid is the first step to overcoming it.”
4. Control your emotions physically.
“Ask a family member or friend to study your posture when you’re happy or content. Then practice it over and over. Your psyche will follow your body. You can literally control your emotions this way.”
5. Break big goals into small targets.
“How do you eat an elephant? One mouthful at a time. Don’t wake up Monday morning and say “Four days and 16 hours till Friday”, instead wake up and say “Two hours till breakfast, and then three hours till lunch”. Try to stay in the present.”
6. Have faith in yourself
“This is the most crucial part of mental toughness. Have faith that you’ll figure it out. You’re a lot stronger physically and mentally than you think you are.”
by Master Chief Will Guild is a 27 year SEAL veteran who mentors incoming SEAL candidates
Wikipedia article on the SEALS
A big THANK YOU to all who serve and who have served! We’re all honored that you’d make that make sacrifice for us.
