David Goggins runs ultramarathons, sets pull-up records, and thrives on extreme mental toughness.I, on the other hand, enjoy sleeping past 5 a.m., drinking good coffee, and avoiding unnecessary suffering.
And yet… his approach to life still taught me something that changed mine.
It’s Not About Being Like Him
The first time I heard Goggins speak, I thought: This guy is wired differently. His pain threshold is on another planet.
But the lesson isn’t to copy his lifestyle.
It’s to borrow the principle behind it: you grow when you choose to do hard things — especially when you don’t have to.
Hard doesn’t have to mean running 100 miles.For me, it might mean:
Saying no when it’s uncomfortable
Tackling that overdue task I’ve been avoiding
Doing a workout when I’d rather scroll my phone
Discipline Is Quiet, But Powerful
I used to think discipline meant rigid schedules and military precision.Now I see it more like keeping small promises to myself.
Finishing what I said I’d start.Showing up on days I don’t feel like it.Doing it for me, not for recognition.
Over time, these tiny acts of follow-through build more confidence than chasing one big, impressive goal.
Try This Today
Ask yourself: What’s one thing I don’t want to do — but know I should?Do that.Not to punish yourself, but to remind yourself who’s in charge: you, not your mood.
I’m nothing like David Goggins.And I don’t need to be.But every time I choose the harder path, my life compounds in ways that matter.
What’s a “hard thing” you’re willing to take on this week?