I’m not an expert on PTSD by any means, but I have learned that soldiers who primarily have a job as a hunter, intentionally training for missions that put them on offense, always aggressive, training and attacking, are generally less susceptible to the effects of the trauma from PTSD. Conversely, soldiers in more defensive jobs who spent more time waiting or wondering when danger will strike, who feel hunted, are more susceptible to the effects of PTSD, more so than the “hunters”.
It’s interesting to recognize that this is how our hearts and minds are wired. We can use this knowledge to help solve some problems and overcome some of our weaknesses physically, mentally, and spiritually.
PHYSICAL
It’s always funny to me to see that guy with the giant upper body and chicken legs strutting around the gym. He never trains his weaknesses. Try intentionally attacking and training one of your physical weaknesses first thing after you have warmed up. Since your energy level and mental focus are greater before you tired, use this opportunity to create more intensity and prioritize the skill, technique, or body part that needs the most work. It feels much better to grind at something we are good at. It’s much harder to deal with looking bad and struggling at something we don’t do well. It’s just true if you want to maximize your physical potential, purposefully attack your weaknesses.
Mindset Tool: We are limited by language. Write down in your own words the value of training that weakness, so you get clear about why you're doing it. Write about how overcoming that weakness will positively affect you, and if you don’t address it, how it might eventually hold you back. Next, set a short term goal and a long term goal. Cast a vision for your success. Finally, identify two or three different exercises that address that weakness and put them in your training routine. Success or failure is all about your commitment to consistently training inside a good routine ..... or don’t worry about it and live with those chicken legs ha
MENTAL
Jordan Peterson said, “Be braver, not less afraid.” That rings true in my heart. It's been my experience that the adversity I have faced either helped refine me and build more character in my life, or it tried to define me, as heartache and disappointment began to overwhelm me. Growing and maturing as a person will require us to understand that we are actually choosing failure when we retreat and hide instead of aggressively attacking the problem.
Mindset Tool: Strength, not weakness, attack, not retreat. I like to picture adversity as a dragon. If the dragon you are squared off with could analyze and evaluate you, it should see you as dangerous! Don’t avoid the dragon; draw your sword (mindset tools and core values) and attack the dragon!
SPIRITUAL
The truth here is hard for me to swallow. To make mistakes and fall short of what we say we believe in has always been part of the human condition. The world isn’t safe. Let me use the spiritual term sin. Sin means to miss the mark, it’s an archery term. Sin is everywhere, and you won’t be able to overcome it with the mindset of trying to avoid it. Instead, we must consciously, daily attack our shortcomings with the intent to destroy them based on a clear plan. It’s just true that if we keep missing the mark because of the same sin day after day, year after year, then we haven’t honestly taken on the responsibility and challenge of destroying that shortcoming. Truthfully, we have chosen to remain in that sin. Either that’s the truth, or that shortcoming will always be more powerful in your life than what you claim to believe in.
Destroying the sin in our lives doesn’t happen by just talking about it, bringing it into the light, confessing it, or simply reciting quotes, mantras or scriptures. Accountability is a cop-out unless you are willing, committed, and prepared to fight. That’s just true because we all know people who have shared all the details of what they say are the shortcomings in their life, asked for support and help, but nothing ever changes for them. In my life, it took losing everything, rock bottom, sink or swim, before it got real for me, and I still have to fight for my truth every day.
Mindset Tool: If you can’t be safe from sin, be dangerous to it! If you have the courage and you know you're prepared and committed, try this exercise. Make a list of your shortcomings. Based on what you believe about it, rank your sin from the worst sin to the white lie. Just the act of honestly writing this down will help reveal how serious about this you are. Next, create a plan. What are you willing to do in order to destroy the sin?
To be successful, what you decide to do has to be anchored by your personal understanding of what purpose and identity is in your life and grounded by a clear understanding of your strongest beliefs or your core values because that’s how you hold yourself accountable and accurately aim at what you believe is the right thing to do. Next, set your goals and execute your plan inside a consistent routine until you destroy the dragon or get good at driving it away.
What’s the alternative? Continue to lie to yourself and others. Continue to hide or run from your shortcomings while allowing your emotions and the momentum of life to push you around, all while the shame of never really committing to living out your values keeps you from becoming 100% of the person you were designed to BE.
Hunt the dragons, or they will hunt you.
Keep Coming Forward!
Jim Hensel
