Challenge is the Training Ground

Challenge is the pressure test that forces clarity, resilience, and direction.

Without challenge, there's no proof of strength. You might have heard smooth seas don't make skilled sailors.

True growth only comes when comfort gets replaced by friction, resistance, and demand, which is a place I've put myself in many times. Sometimes you have to do this to receive those deep insights and experiences. For example, let's say fasting; you're putting your body into a survival state essentially, and with that, your body starts to heal itself, but not without going into that fight or flight mode.

Another time I've done it is the clear example of preparing for boot camp, being on a strict schedule and routine. The discipline that takes and basically being over-prepared for modern boot camp. I demanded from my mental and physical self to the point where I grew to being comfortable, for the most part, with boot camp, mainly physically, because it is exhausting work that gets done with long hours.

That was only the beginning, by the way. Long deployments, submarine stress, and responsibility over crews, equipment, and missions take a toll. We're talking training, maintenance, and personnel while constantly preparing with mission briefs and drills. Even after being up for 24 hours, you're expected to perform. It's like pulling an all-nighter and then going to work, only you never left work.

The benefit of this is that when you come out on the other side of these long days and hours of preparation, you emerge hardened into rare-tier resilience. Everything is muscle memory, or at least it should be. You reframe challenges not as punishment but as an invitation to level up.

People often fear challenges because they see them as failure risks, as opposed to framing them like a training ground. Picture this: operational stress is simply weights in the gym. Personally, I seek out challenges to avoid stagnation. If I'm sitting still, I'm likely going through thoughts and playing things back in my head, if not thinking forward and visualizing.

Challenge is the friction that tests alignment, and with that, a chance to see if a partnership is resilient or fragile. Many nights out, sometimes one of the boys just needs to let off some steam and will ask to go out.

Of course, when we go out, nine times out of ten, we will meet a veteran. A recurring theme with some veterans who have seen war is, after testing our mettle, will the guys around die for you? Will they risk their life to save yours like you will for them? Deep bonds are made with these veterans late at night, and we might never see each other again, but the similarities in mindset are uncanny. I know I've got my brothers' backs, and they know I've got theirs, and it's reciprocated. It's respected.

If I can't trust you to save my life on a boat in any situation, then we have some training to do. If there are other things in your life going on, then we can have a talk to manage that so that you can get to the level you need to be where we trust each other.

"Challenge isn't an obstacle; it's the sharpening stone."

"Every challenge is training for the next level."

"The rare don't avoid challenges; they multiply them."