Embrace Failure as Your Greatest Teacher in the Journey to Special Ops
The fourth week of training is known as Hell Week. In this grueling five-and-a-half day stretch, each candidate sleeps only about four total hours but runs more than 200 miles and does physical training for more than 20 hours per day. (U.S. Navy/Petty Officer 1st Class Abe McNatt)
Military.com | By Stew Smith, CSCS®
Published January 22, 2025
If you have the right mindset, failures and setbacks are valuable learning experiences. They teach us to embrace shortcomings, move on and never quit while growing wiser and more experienced for the next time.
Imagine this: During a grueling training exercise, your arms are sore, and every step feels heavier than the last. Your heart beats through your chest, and you are cold, wet and sandy. You could easily ring the bell (quit), but instead, you remember why you started this journey. Many of those who quit often have been ultra-successful all of their life and never failed at anything they attempted.
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Challenging yourself to do hard things is an admirable goal, especially for those aspiring to join the military and push themselves toward special operations. It's a journey that requires physical durability and mental fortitude to face the challenges head-on. If you refuse to give up on this dream, here is how you can prepare for the long term, build habits with discipline and ultimately thrive through future adversity.
Knowing how to deal with setbacks and failures is essential, as these moments test your will and often define your path. Building resilience isn't just about pushing through these types of moments. It's about creating a mindset that welcomes challenges as opportunities to grow and realizing that today's pain is the standard to enter the community you wish to join. Having the determination that nothing will stop you from obtaining that is the special link to meeting the standard and continuing with success.
https://www.military.com/military-fitness/embrace-failure-your-greatest-teacher-journey-special-ops
