Toughness goes beyond just physical prowess.
“We like to go to the challenge before the challenge comes to us.” -Mark Divine
The Cheat Sheet:
- Why do 80% of Navy SEAL trainees fail?
- What’s the oldest personal development system known to mankind?
- When do we grow and learn the most according to Mark?
- What is kokoro and why is it an important part of his training?
- Confirmation bias and intuition: what are the differences?
- And so much more…
In the US we see our Navy SEALs as the most elite and effectively trained soldiers of our country. On the show today is a former Navy SEAL Commander and Honor Man Mark Divine.
Today on The Art of Charm Mark talks about how his background led him to develop SEALFIT, a live academy and online integrative warrior training program that uses SEAL training methods to help people achieve their fullest potential. All of this and more on episode 365.
More About This Show:
Mark wasn’t just a Navy SEAL; he served for nine years in active duty and 11 years as a reservist. He retired as a Commander in 2011 and was named Honor Man among his Navy SEAL training class. An Honor Man is someone who has shown the highest levels of integrity, leadership, and teamwork during their training to become a SEAL.
He also holds black belts in several forms of martial arts, is teacher-trained in Ashtanga yoga, and later developed his own yoga style called Warrior Yoga. While all of this may be impressive, it also explains the foundation and from where his SEALFIT programs stem. He blends mind and body and teaches people who are interested in this type of training to reach their full warrior potential.
SEALFIT uses mental, physical, emotional, intuitive, and kokoro training to achieve this potential. Mark says this training is meant to help those who participate become honorable people who serve their family, their community, and humanity at large.
There are a variety of programs available, from a 12-month long digital offering called The Unbeatable Mind to a 50-hour non-stop program called Kokoro Camp; it’s modeled after Hell Week and is for the elite athletes and pre-special operation forces trainees of the world.
There are many different tools used in all of his courses. One we discuss in this episode is a breathing technique to control stress levels. Mark explains it like this: to calm down or stay calm, breathe in through your nose and exhale through your nose.
When you do this, your breath is stimulating your diaphragm. There is a bundle of nerves there that triggers your parasympathetic nervous system, the counterpart to your sympathetic nervous system that is responsible for your fight, flight, or freeze response.
Doing something as simple as taking deep breaths in and out of your nose repeatedly will calm your body, thus calming your mind. When your mind and body are calm, you can focus more intently and stay alert. You can use this trick anytime you’re stressed — it doesn’t have to be a life or death situation! Use it before a big interview or before you ask someone out on a date.
Mark gives us another breathing tool to use and also shares his thoughts on intuition and trusting your gut. He tells us about a few examples from his life when he did or didn’t trust his instinct, and the consequences. He also explains why the most successful people in the world are the most emotionally developed, and what his programs offer in that vein.
It was fascinating to have Mark here and to listen to his stories, his personal experiences, and knowledge on how to get the most out of our bodies and minds. Thanks to Mark for joining us and as always, thank you for being here. We’ll see you next time.
THANKS, MARK DIVINE!
Resources from this episode:
- Mark Divine’s website
- SEALFIT on Twitter
- 8 Weeks to SEALFIT: A Navy SEAL’s Guide to Unconventional Training for Physical and Mental Toughness by Mark Divine
You’ll Also Like:
- The Art of Charm Challenge (click here or text 38470 in the US)
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- Find out more about the team who makes The Art of Charm podcast here!
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