Times you knew and times you questioned...

[sandwich]

So I've been thinking a lot...(I do that too much) and I thought I'd create a thread that might be rather controversial, but could provide some info/inspiration to those of us who are currently training.

Explain one time you KNEW, without a doubt, that you were cut out to be a SEAL/going to make it/ready to head to BUD/S.
Also, explain one time you doubted yourself/had a hard time/questioned your motivation.

If you're one of those people who "never thot abut it cuz then u will fayel" then I'd rather not hear from you. Fact is, sometimes we lose our motivation or fear the unknown, and I'd love to hear from other people times of motivation and de-motivation, mostly to know that I'm not alone.

I'll start.

Motivation:
Early last year, I competed in a 24 hour race. I had never met my teammates, but I successfully flew halfway across the US, assembled my bike and gear, and got the race underway without a hitch.
The third leg of the race was a canoe leg, and it something on the order of 15 miles long. It took us a Godawful long time, as I think one of our team of three was not participating in the rowing. Anyways, without food or water (they were packed up in drybags), I paddled my @$$ off for 5.5 hours, then continued the race. It struck me at that point that I could do anything I put my mind to.

De-motivation:
On the same line, later in that race, due to some technical difficulties (flat tires, food issues, etc.) we were running in dead last and a solid 1-2hrs behind the next competitor. I knew we were outmatched and underprepared, and two of us decided it was time to "leave the building". I've regretted quitting since then, but I still think it was the right decision based on all the issues we were having. At that point I had to question my "never give up" attitude.

So...any takers? This is supposed to be positive, by the way, I'd like to think that we can learn from our trials and move on to have a better attitude in the future.

[sealwife256]

So If you're one of those people who "never thot abut it cuz then u will fayel" then I'd rather not hear from you.

Alright, that was hilarious.

I think this is a really good post. I'm going to ask my husband (the next time I talk to him...) his answer. I have a feeling though his biggest let down was leaving BUD/S his first time post hell week, having to be in the fleet for 2 years, and then trying again with a clean slate of no promises. Just goes to show you can make anything of yourself with determination and patience.

[beardch]

SEALwife 256,
Just curious to why your husband was dropped post Hell Week? Pool comp? Medical drop?

[sealwife256]

It was during pool comp... which was crazy because he was a lifeguard during college. Swimming is his strength. To be honest I don't think one of the instructors liked him too much. Keeping a low profile is a really good idea.

[beardch]

Man that stinks, having the instructor staff on you is already another burden on the many at BUD/S, but hey props to him, he went back and completed it, not many people can say that.

[thatguy2695]

Motivation
when I hear people say (that kids an animal at the gym) and when its cold cause I am rarely affected by the cold, my friends always think its weird but when ever I feel that slight chill or start shivering a bit cause I've been in the water to long I always remember a phrase I heard "your ability to endure cold must be unquestioned"

EMBRACE THE SUCK!

De-motivation
at wrestling camp last year a lot of the guys in my group new I wanted to be a SEAL and when a SEAL came and administered the SEAL Fitness Challenge (PST)
I failed the swim by a minute it crushed me mentally for the rest of the day. I am squared away now but I always look back to that and how disappointed I was.

[PostHweekNoGrad]

It was during pool comp... which was crazy because he was a lifeguard during college. Swimming is his strength. To be honest I don't think one of the instructors liked him too much. Keeping a low profile is a really good idea.

Haha sounds like me. I swam competively since I was a little kid and I was also a lifeguard. I was probably top 1% in the class as far as being comfortable on and under the water and I got dropped during pool week as well.

"I don't think one of the instructors liked him too much...keep a low profile is a good idea"

Definitely agree with this!! ; ) BUD/S candidates, keep a LOW profile. ie don't give a reason for the instructors to draw any extra attention to yourself if possible.

[iamfubar44861]

[QUOTE=PostHweekNoGrad;196926]Haha sounds like me. I swam competively since I was a little kid and I was also a lifeguard. I was probably top 1% in the class as far as being comfortable on and under the water and I got dropped during pool week as well. QUOTE]

I read your bio in your profile, but I was under the impression that the instructors give you several tries if you fail certain diving evolutions, like gear exchange and underwater knot tying?

[sealwife256]

Haha sounds like me. I swam competively since I was a little kid and I was also a lifeguard. I was probably top 1% in the class as far as being comfortable on and under the water and I got dropped during pool week as well.

Definitely agree with this!! ; ) BUD/S candidates, keep a LOW profile. ie don't give a reason for the instructors to draw any extra attention to yourself if possible.

PostHweekNoGrad, are you going to go back? Are you still in the Navy?

[PostHweekNoGrad]

We had 4 chances at gear exhange. It's a swim buddy evolution, so if you're swimmy buddy fails something, it's a fail for both of you. At least in my class it was that way. I messed up twice and he messed up twice. My last try I had a slight twist in my shoulder strap. I would've got rolled to the next class like my swim buddy and the rest of the failures, but I pissed of my Dive phase proctor so I got dropped. Like SEALwife said, keep a low profile!!


SEALwife, I'd love to go back but I've got too many injuries for BUD/S right now.

How's your husband liking the Teams?

[sealwife256]

How's your husband liking the Teams?

There are always likes/dislikes to every career, but overall I know he wouldn't trade it for anything. He's on his second deployment with his Team and I'm looking forward to him coming home :)

[9007112]

So I've been thinking a lot...(I do that too much) and I thought I'd create a thread that might be rather controversial, but could provide some info/inspiration to those of us who are currently training.

Explain one time you KNEW, without a doubt, that you were cut out to be a SEAL/going to make it/ready to head to BUD/S.
Also, explain one time you doubted yourself/had a hard time/questioned your motivation.

If you're one of those people who "never thot abut it cuz then u will fayel" then I'd rather not hear from you. Fact is, sometimes we lose our motivation or fear the unknown, and I'd love to hear from other people times of motivation and de-motivation, mostly to know that I'm not alone.

I'll start.

Motivation:
Early last year, I competed in a 24 hour race. I had never met my teammates, but I successfully flew halfway across the US, assembled my bike and gear, and got the race underway without a hitch.
The third leg of the race was a canoe leg, and it something on the order of 15 miles long. It took us a Godawful long time, as I think one of our team of three was not participating in the rowing. Anyways, without food or water (they were packed up in drybags), I paddled my @$$ off for 5.5 hours, then continued the race. It struck me at that point that I could do anything I put my mind to.

De-motivation:
On the same line, later in that race, due to some technical difficulties (flat tires, food issues, etc.) we were running in dead last and a solid 1-2hrs behind the next competitor. I knew we were outmatched and underprepared, and two of us decided it was time to "leave the building". I've regretted quitting since then, but I still think it was the right decision based on all the issues we were having. At that point I had to question my "never give up" attitude.

So...any takers? This is supposed to be positive, by the way, I'd like to think that we can learn from our trials and move on to have a better attitude in the future.

I never doubted myself. There are times when I did not finish runs, win fights or finish calisthenics workouts I planned, I was disappointed in myself because I could not finish, when I say I could not, it's because I COULD NOT, I'd keep pushing till I almost collapse, keep going till I throw up, keep going till I can't (right after quitting a 3 pack a day habit).

"The desire to win is born in most of us. The will to win is a matter of training". - Margaret Thatcher.

Almost any muther****er wants to win, I've never met someone who didn't and the only good that's gonna do you is that you can write it down and shove it up your ***, because unless you do all the training, it doesn't matter if you have the will to win or not or motivation either, same **** different name.

I am guilty of not being 100% focused and that is the only thing that matters, being 100% focused.

I started eliminating distractions, still not perfect by my standards. I know what the problem was and took action to solve it and always working on improving anything I can.

"Continuous effort -- not strength or intelligence -- is the key to unlocking our potential."
Liane Cardes"

If you're cut out to be SEAL, you most likely will, if you're not cut out to be a SEAL, you most likely will not, you either have it or you don't.

"The best indicator of future behavior is a pattern of past behavior. The next best indicator of future behavior is what an individual wants to do." I think this was by Joe Navaro, former FBI agent.


All that **** I wrote won't help you one bit, Are you cut out to be a SEAL? And are you gonna be a SEAL?

These are the only two questions that matter.

[da_runner]

Reality check time.
I am probably older than most so here goes.

There is no question you will fail, we all fail. There is no question that you will be a mental idiot when it comes to a decision. We are all idiots.

There is no question your emotional state will affect your judgement. We have felt despair and failed.

The measure of the person is not the failure, but, the ability to learn, adapt, overcome and get back into it over and over again.

The world is big nasty place and there is no finish, it just keeps coming and coming. We have to be able to keep going and going.
Then there wil be a time when you can't. Probably age, injury,disease etc. You have to change directions.
That is adaption as well.

Keep well all.

No I am not military.