In this special Veteran’s Day episode, our expert guest is Mark Divine. US Navy Seals are America’s toughest warriors. The training to become a Navy Seal is grueling, and less than 15% make it through the nine-month selection process called Basic Underwater Demolition Seal Training (BUDs), an unparalleled test of physical stamina, mental toughness, and emotional resilience. Mark not only made it through BUDs at 26, but he graduated as the honor man, the #1 honor rank in a class among 170. Even more striking, his entire original boat crew graduated with him that day—a one in a million occurrence that did not happen by accident. It was the first of many elite teams Mark went on to build.
Through Mark’s innovative SEAL Fit and Unbeatable Mind training systems, including the Hell Week Simulation Kokoro Crucible, he provides the physical, mental, and emotional tools to allow not 15% but 90% of his trainees to lead and succeed in the most demanding training in the world.
Mark’s family had groomed him to go into business, and he was working as a certified public accountant. But he was also an athlete and, while working, he was trying to maintain his physical training. He took up martial arts and found his first master, who began to train him in zen through martial arts. Through meditation, Mark found his purpose: to become a warrior and a leader, and to do this by becoming a Navy SEAL.
Mark picked up five critical skills through working with his mentor:
- Breath control
- Deep concentration
- Visualization
- Radical focus on micro-goals
- Focusing on helping others overcome their struggles
Mark Divine has founded the Courage Foundation to help vets recovering from depression and to prevent the staggering number of suicides every year. He works with them emotionally, therapeutically, and physically to help them recover from the traumas they’ve experienced.
The Biggest Helping: Today’s Most Important Takeaway
“Everything that you’re searching for in life lies within you, and the way to find that is to slow down, to take control of your conscious process of breathing, and then let the breath bridge between the physical outer world and then into your mind and then your spirit. Just follow the breath in, and then once you’re in there’s no going back. You’ll find your answers, you’ll find your answers about your purpose in life, why you’re here, and what you can do about it. And just take action.”
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Thank you for joining us on The Daily Helping with Dr. Shuster. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Google Play to download more food for the brain, knowledge from the experts, and tools to win at life.
Resources:
- feedcourage.org
- Visit seekyourpowers.com and use the code FEEDCOURAGE to give half of the proceeds to the Courage Foundation
The Daily Helping is produced by Crate Media
There is incredible potential that lies within each and every one of us to create positive change in our lives (and the lives of others) while achieving our dreams.
This is the Power of You!
