How We Can Endure Our Lives
Cameron Hanes's Endure opens with a powerful introduction from popular podcast host, Joe Rogan. The introduction concerns an uncommon goal: maximizing one's life.
The maximization of life is a rarity not only because of it's difficulty to accomplish, but also because most don't even attempt it. The maximization of one's life is the essential within Endure, and the piece acts as a subtle argument in itself that this is the righteous path to take.
My main contention after reading the novel, is that we all should be attempting to maximize our lives and improve them each day. The two main lessons within Endure to this end surround mentality and habits.
Through the combination of these two lessons, Cameron Hanes has found immense success. Learning from him, we may be able to accomplish similar achievements.
Mentality
The first learning held within Endure that I wish to discuss is mentality. I’ve separated the mentality of Cameron Hanes into three significant elements: disagreement with the impossible, removing your mental handcuffs, and mental callusing.
First, disagreeing with the impossible is the idea that we cannot become slaves to things we deem to be impossible or improbable. In order to push our boundaries, we must set long-term goals that seem lofty and difficult, maybe even impossible. All of those in history who have achieved amazing things (world records, championships, etc.) may have been told many times that the goals they seek are impossible. Maybe they even told themselves this. However, through a strong mentality focused on positive self-talk, we can set seemingly impossible goals and maybe even achieve them. The honest point in addition, is that the opposite mindset only breeds failure. If you are brutally realistic about your goals, this realism is quality for the short-term goals. Long-term goals need to be placed out of your boundary of competence for one to grow. Disagree with the impossible, and push your boundaries farther than you even thought you can go.
Second, we must take off our mental handcuffs. This concept is closely related to disagreement with the impossible, but I believe it to be related to smaller level goals and procrastination more than stretch goals. For instance, if we were to procrastinate and say, "I can't do this today, I'm tired," or any other version of this excuse, we are most likely wrong. We are placing mental handcuffs on ourselves that disallow us from taking action in our lives. We must take these off. You probably know that deep down, we can accomplish what we set out to every day. Remove your mental handcuffs to what you need or want to get done.
Third, mental callusing when times are good so that we can deal for when times are bad. More popular with those who follow David Goggins (ultra-marathon runner, former Navy SEAL). Training is a requirement for all of those who want to be better in their lives. We must train outside of difficult times in order to be ready. There isn't any way around this fact. Within Endure it's encapsulated clearly in the statement, "Train hard, hunt easy."
Habits
Similar to our discussion on our mentality, our habits need to take precedence in our minds as we try to maximize our lives. The three significant habits discussed by Cameron Hanes are hammering day after day, interacting with what makes you confident and committed. and not giving a voice to incompetence.
Keep Hammering. It is the phrase that is most associated with the life of Cameron Hanes, and it is important not only for its meaning but in its simplicity. Keep Hammering essentially is the message to continually hone your craft each day in order to produce results. Discipline in our practice is what provides incremental results over time. Additionally, the phrases' simplicity cuts out all unnecessary information or discussion, and gives a mantra, which in my opinion is extremely important. Keep hammering on whatever you want to get better at, and you will see results.
Interacting with what makes us confident and committed allows us to maximize our lives through removing what makes us sad and self-conscious. Being able to strictly manage the intake of content in our lives to what genuinely interests us and makes us confident can be a life-changing decision. Many of us interact with content and media all day that we don't even like and makes us feel terrible, but yet we continue. What if we just made the decision to stop interacting with this content, and only pursued media that allowed us to feel inspired, to learn, or to genuinely be made happy. Interact with makes you feel confident and committed, and it will help you on your path to maximization.
Do not give a voice to incompetence around you. No matter who it is from (even your own family), you cannot allow for incompetence to define your actions or what you value. This isn't to say you have to be rude to those who provide you unsolicited advice or incompetent opinions. Be graceful in your response to these statements. However, with your internal compass, do not allow others to push you towards incompetence. Simple as that.
Through the story of Cameron Hanes, we can push towards the maximization of our lives into who we wish to become. In both our mentality and our habits, we can make changes that push us further towards success and apply quality principles to our lives.
Key Takeaways
Disagree with impossible
Take off your mental handcuffs
Mentally callus yourself to be able to deal with hard times
Keep Hammering
Interact with makes you confident and committed
Do not give a voice to incompetence
