Retired Navy SEAL and ultra-marathon runner David Goggins shares wisdom and motivation for self-improvement in a recent podcast with Dr. Andrew Huberman. Furthermore, the discussion covers willpower, weight loss, past injuries, and Goggins’ career as a smoke jumper.
“For some reason, God put me in almost every fucked up situation on planet Earth. So when I talk to people, it’s not sugar-coated because I’m not saying it from, ‘I was 175 pounds my whole life.’ I don’t say much to those people.”
When discussing motivation, David Goggins emerges as an unparalleled inspiration. Overcoming food addiction and a 300-pound weight, he transformed himself in three months, launching into a Navy SEAL journey. Featured on top-tier podcasts, including the Joe Rogan Experience and The Huberman Lab with neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman.
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At 48, Goggins sustains a disciplined routine, running over 10 miles daily for years. Moreover, despite facing health setbacks, they haven’t deterred him from embracing a life filled with adventure.
David Goggins on Willpower & Weight loss: ‘If You Don’t Have That Little Flame, You’re Done, I Can’t Light It For You’
Goggins emphasizes that he can’t help or offer guidance to people who don’t want to change or lack the motivation or willpower needed to make a difference in their lives.
“Maybe you’re a piece of shit, maybe you want to be nobody, maybe you’re happy with exactly where you are in life because obviously you are, maybe you don’t have the determination to be better than somebody who you are. If you want to live with that, I’ll support you in that.
If you’re good with being who you are, every day you wake up and every day you smell like shit because you can’t wash your body well and your skin is messed up because your health is so bad. You can’t put your clothes on, you need clothes. I needed help wiping my ass. That makes you feel good? Nothing I can say to you.”“If every day you wake up, see people are haunted but they like horror films because they keep watching the same fucking movie. I don’t like horror films but a lot of people like horror films. I don’t say much to them. I say exactly what I said to you right there. Because I was once you, I didn’t like horror films so I changed it,” said David Goggins.
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David Goggins asserts that there’s no ‘hack’ for willpower, emphasizing the need for something within to awaken.
“Their will is so small and they don’t have any and you can’t give it to them. This is what I’m talking about right now. This isn’t a hack. This has to be in you. Something in you has to wake up.”
Furthermore, Goggins asserts individuals are ‘done’ if they lack a ‘little flame’ of willpower, and he can’t help them.
“Usually, the only person that can wake it up is you. Sometimes you can read a David Goggins book and I was all this shit and a lot more of fucked up but if you don’t have a little flame, just that barely — you’re done. I can’t light it for you. That’s the harsh reality of this life.”
“You have to explore, examine the insides of yourself and what do you really want out of life. Your friend and a lot of people out here just don’t fucking want it. Guess what, have fun with your life.”
Despite undergoing two heart surgeries and multiple knee surgeries, Goggins attributes his daily runs solely to willpower.
“Two heart surgeries, multiple knee surgeries and after every knee surgery they say you’re not going to run again and I’m fine with that. There’s no running up here bro [points to his head]. This is what it’s all about. That’s what they lost. ‘What if you can’t run?’ Don’t give a fuck. It was never about running. Why do you think I run? It’s the worse thing I hate doing it more than anything, hence the willpower.”
“Think about it, every day I wake up, I don’t just run a mile, two miles, it’s the one thing I hate the most to do and I do it like I love it, 250, 260, 270, 300-mile runs at one time! No sleep. Every step when I get to – think about this, I get to the fucking start line cussing at Jennifer. ‘Why the fuck am I here I hate this shit.’ After 70-something hours of running, every fucking question I had was answered.”
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During four months each year, Goggins engages in smoke jumping to extinguish fires, a commitment that costs him millions annually.
“For me to be who I am, so when I go smoke jump, I smoke jump three to four months out of the year, sometimes five,” said Goggins. “Basically, you jump into fires, not into them, but you jump by fires that people can’t get to. Right out of planes, I parachute, it’s all parachuting, you parachute out of airplanes and you fight the fire. Sometimes you and four other guys, maybe eight other guys and gals and you’re putting this fire out.”
“I lose millions of dollars every summer to do this. It blows peoples’ minds. I’m breathing soot, my knees are jacked up, hitting the ground, hurting, whatever. Talking to normal people, they’ll never get it so I don’t even explain it to them. This is what I call capped success.”
Goggins characterizes willpower as a ‘very perishable skill,’ describing it as a ‘haunting force’ that propels him forward.
“This is a very very very perishable skill, this willpower that you have. Because I do have a willpower that I have never seen in anyone of my life. It’s a haunting force that just keeps me going. I know that that is my strength.”
This wasn’t David Goggin’s first time discussing willpower, training, and smoke jumping. In an Instagram post, Goggins responded to fans who argued that he trains too much. Goggins explained that running seven days a week works best for him, stressing, “I’m not crazy, I’m just not you.”
With David Goggins’ distinctive connection to discipline, he provides valuable insights for those seeking self-improvement. Also, describing his willpower as a ‘haunting force,’ he acknowledges it as his greatest strength in life.
Watch the full video on the Huberman Lab YouTube channel below:
Overview
David Goggins transformed from 300 pounds to a Navy SEAL through disciplined weight loss. Furthermore, running over 10 miles daily, he asserts willpower must awaken from within, challenging individuals to examine their true desires. Additionally, Goggins credits his daily runs solely to willpower despite undergoing surgeries.. Additionally, engaging in smoke jumping, costing millions, showcases his ‘capped success.’ Goggins characterizes willpower as a ‘very perishable skill,’ a ‘haunting force’ propelling him forward. Also, his unique approach emphasizes his intense training and lifestyle’s effectiveness. Goggins, with a distinct connection to discipline, remains an inspiration for those seeking self-improvement.
Featured Image @davidgoggins (Instagram), @Andrew Huberman (Youtube)
