When I attempted Special Forces selection I had prepared for a year both physically and mentally as best as possible, for what is arguably one of the toughest selection processes in the world. When I was on the start line of selection I could put my hand on my heart to say that I had prepared the best as possible. I was hoping this was enough…
But actually I had a hidden ‘joker’ up my sleeve, something I didn’t realise, I had the HUNGER!
This turbo charged me with the super motivation and desire. I knew where I wanted to be, for me it was all or nothing really. This drove me through everything that was thrown at me and believe me they throw everything at you! Don’t get me wrong I still had my down days and I had to fight the ‘demons’ that attacked me with my negative thoughts; these can spiral out of control if you’re not careful…
Fast forward 10 years later and the roles were reversed. I was now the Instructor preparing those who wanted to attempt selection. My role was to help prepare volunteers physically and mentally, providing relevant advice and support, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, where they were empowered to go away and work on them. Ultimately they had to do it themselves, this is what it’s all about volunteering to become an SF Soldier…
What I saw out of the many hundreds of guys I had help train was those who had prepared well (physically and mentally), who were resilient (had pushed themselves through their training in all weathers, being uncomfortable), and most importantly they had the HUNGER, had better chances of success. I saw some of those who I had seen and identified with this combination pop through the other end, and they also knew why and understood what HUNGER is all about.
It was the same for my polar expeditions, reaching the North and South Poles, I had the HUNGER. It was the same for my academic challenge in attaining my Masters’ degree, becoming a state registered paramedic, and again everything else I have decided to undertake.
I had the HUNGER to do it.
You hear this from sports professionals, film stars, Olympians in them achieving their goals, whether winning that medal, starring in that film etc. In fact, you just have to watch the recent NETFLIX series from Arnold Schwarzenegger where he actually mentions ‘HUNGER’! It works! But you don’t have to be a film star or elite professional this can be YOU!
When the chips are down and you’re mind is saying why? No need? The difference between success and failure or even SURVIVAL could be having the HUNGER that drives you and keeps YOU alive!
HUNGER is an extremely powerful tool in your psychological arsenal to help you achieve success or survive. Without this, you can be the fittest person, strongest minded person, but still fail to be successful or even survive….
HUNGER is your vision, it picks you up and drives you through those physical and mental challenges regardless of how long the journey is….
But, where does that HUNGER come from?
This is something you need to find out yourself, but it comes from within; it comes your own values and beliefs. Ask yourself what is motivating you to do what you are doing? Where do you see or visualise yourself?
YOU will not give in.
YOU will do you BEST.
How much do you want this?
YOU need to train, prepare well for that arena.
YOU need that recipe for success, that ‘P.E.S.T.O.’ This will give you confidence and that belief, a belief that YOU CAN REALLY DO THIS!
With all of this combined, it will provide you with the HUNGER!
HUNGER makes you different from those who don’t have hunger- It can lead to SUCCESS! That is not to say you won’t fail, but you need to learn from those failures, picking yourself back up, learning from this, and let the HUNGER drive you again and again to get back up, step by step, and reach your vision.
GOOD LUCK and don’t forget that HUNGER!
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