To imbibe the true meaning of endurance and commitment, read this experience of David Goggins.
The Truth of the First Day
David says that to join the Navy SEALs, he had to lose about 50 kg in two months. His plan was to eat very little, drink water throughout the day, and exercise like crazy.
David recalls that on the first day, he was full of excitement. He had decided to run about 3 miles—roughly 5 kilometers—before starting the actual race. His mind was completely focused. According to David, he was determined to discover the greatness within him. He set the timer on his watch and began running. However, after just 400 meters, he was so exhausted that he stopped and headed back home. With every step, a sense of despair gradually crept in.
He was extremely angry with himself because he had pushed so hard, yet couldn’t even run half a kilometer. Frustrated, he came home, sat on the couch, and started eating milkshakes and chocolate donuts to drown his sadness. Eventually, he broke down in tears, thinking, "If I can’t even walk, how am I supposed to lose weight in two months? The dream of becoming a Navy SEAL feels impossible."
At that moment, the negativity and insecurity in David's life began to take over. He started feeling like the people who had insulted him were absolutely right, and those who doubted him were justified. He convinced himself that he wouldn’t be able to change his life, that he wouldn’t accomplish anything, and that he was destined to be a nobody. He was on the verge of giving up. But then he found an old Rocky cassette, put it in the VCR, and went straight to the final round of the last fight, where Rocky is beaten and knocked down.
The coach says, "Give up, you’ve proven yourself. Don’t stand up now." But Rocky doesn’t give up. His determination even unsettles the German champion, Apollo Creed. After watching this, David turned off the TV and reflected on his own life. He realized there was no drive or passion in it. David understood that if he continued to give in to every weakness and fear, he would never be able to overcome them for the rest of his life.
He realized he had only one option: to harness the emotions that were hurting and suppressing him as a way to break free. David drank a milkshake but then threw it in the dustbin, laced up his shoes, and stepped outside to run again. Almost immediately, he began to feel intense pain in his lungs and knees, as if someone had stabbed him with a hot knife. But this time, he didn’t stop. Eventually, the pain subsided, and he completed 1.5 kilometers.
For the first time, David realized his first lesson: all mental and physical limitations are not real. He understood that he had been giving up too early throughout his life, but now he couldn't afford to do that anymore. David emphasized that he must confront the biggest challenges of his life.
The biggest lesson he learned wasn’t from any book; it came from pushing himself to reach his goals. The second lesson is that after many difficult days, a day of victory will arrive because the goal is significant. David realized that after his first day of running, each day would become harder, and he would likely face failures every day.
Every day will test his commitment because his goal feels impossible and daunting. David learned that there will be times when hope seems lost, moments of shame, and instances when he feels he can’t go on. Sometimes, it may seem like nothing is changing, but you still have to keep pushing forward every day because your goal is significant. This is what endurance and commitment are all about. However, endurance and commitment are neither easy nor pleasant.
David says he has succeeded in this journey. Lesson number three is that only the bad days lead to success. We often think that bad days hold us back, but if we remain committed, those difficult days actually pave the way for success. The next day, you become hungry to improve, and that increased hunger and desire attract success. Friends, I don’t want to just motivate you; I want to bring this realization into your consciousness.
If you experience doubts or sometimes find yourself complaining about your progress, don’t be afraid of those feelings; they are signs of endurance and commitment. David began to embrace these emotions.
Lesson number four is to flip the emotions. He reminded himself that his self-doubt stemmed from his desire to achieve something meaningful. He has a mission in life, and with that comes certain difficulties. At the same time, he called his mentor to share his training progress.
Then comes lesson number five: turn mistakes into motivation. David recounts a workout where he had to complete a total of 112 pull-ups. However, in the last set, he managed only 11 instead of 12 because he was exhausted. When he got home, he wasn’t allowed to eat until he went back to the gym and completed all 112 pull-ups.
After that, he returned home and slept peacefully. He had transformed his defeat into a valuable lesson and his mistake into a significant win. David says that from that point on, whenever he found himself wanting to take shortcuts, he would complete the full workout again. Friends, if you wasted an hour today, study for two hours instead of one. If you woke up half an hour late, do double the revision today.
Convert your mistakes into workouts on the same day. When I think of commitment and endurance, I remember Swami Vivekananda's quote. He said that the battlefield is vast, but we will win inch by inch. Inch by inch, we will gain ground. This is the true essence of endurance.
First lesson for endurance: All mental and physical limitations are not real. When you push beyond fear and pain, you can transcend them, and gradually, this pain will lessen.
Lesson number two: After many bad days, a day of victory will come because the goal is substantial.
Third lesson: Only the bad days lead to success because if you are genuinely committed, those difficult days will increase your desire to win.
Lesson number four: Flip the emotions. Whenever you feel that something or an emotion is holding you back, harness that emotion and ask yourself how much you stand to lose by holding onto it. Then take action using that energy.
Lesson number five: Turn mistakes into workouts. Swami Vivekananda says that if a person believes they are impure, they lose mental agility and willpower.