Veteran Mettle

I was a medic in the 5/20th Infantry battalion, I was with Bravo Company, and we were in a Stryker brigade. I was on the line the whole time I was in the battalion, and most of that time was spent in the stryker, either driving or sometimes as the vehicle commander. I recently recorded a podcast with a buddy, Craig Hysell who is the owner of Conviction Training Facility, and co-host of the Conviction Strong Radio podcast. This particular episode we were discussing vulnerability, how vulnerability can be a tool, and how it can allow us to grow beyond our current situation. For me, the situation of speaking about vulnerability is an onion of sorts; it's multi-layered. In order to have an honest conversation about vulnerability, it is necessary to speak from personal experience, to be vulnerable. As I was talking about vulnerability on the podcast, and relating it to my service as a medic in an infantry battalion, I was pretty uncomfortable giving details about my service; I was ...

Flip the perspective of how you look at things. For example: instead of having to go to the gym in the pursuit a goal, look at the gym as a place and an opportunity for experimentation and improvements. Take one movement, or even a piece of a movement and dedicate today's effort, physically and mentally, to understanding that movement better and executing it better than you ever have. nothing grandiose or exceptionally exciting from the outside, but on the inside it can be. 1) Shift from "having to" do something, to "getting to" do that same thing 2) Use each opportunity that you have as a way of getting better, in some capacity. 3) Slow down, dig in, fight for the improvement - this is the differentiation line between the improved version of yourself and the older version 4) Take time (even just a couple deep breaths) afterwards and be mindful of the progress that you're making. write it down, share it with someone who matters to yo...