Reflection on Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Minds and Defy the Odds by David Goggins

The author of this book is a retired Navy SEAL named David Goggins who has also run ultramarathons, triathlons, and lots of other crazy shit, pushing his mind and body to the absolute limits that they can reach. To be honest, he’s insane, and that can be a little discouraging because I don’t think I really want to be where he is mentally. He really doesn’t talk much about his relationships with women and he is obsessed with masculinity in a way that swerves into unhealthy territory. On the other hand, Goggins also has excellent perspective. I think the best passage of the book comes when he talks about what to do when you become triumphant and a master of your own body and mind:

“You can push yourself to a place that is beyond the current capability of temporal mindset of the people you work with, and that’s okay. Just know that your supposed superiority is a figment of your own ego. So don’t lord it over them, because it won’t help you advance as a team or as an individual in your field. Instead of getting angry that your colleagues can’t keep up, help pick your colleagues up and bring them with you!”

What is most incredible about Goggins is that he fails constantly, over and over again in pursuit of his goals. His determination is extremely unusual and something any person should emulate.