Navy seals go through some of the most grueling training in the world. This training is designed to break even the strongest of hopefuls who enter into the program. The total reasoning for “hell week” cannot be summarized into one sentence but this is the week that separates those who will more than likely make it through BUDS training (basic underwater demolition) and from those who will bow out. The program lasts 24 weeks but hell week is the one always referred to by the movies. A point where torture is acceptable, malnourishment, and hypothermia are standard daily practices and medics on duty are incredibly busy attending to the needs of future seals who are literally getting the shit kicked out of them day after day.
If you’ve ever watched anything remotely close in a movie or read about hell week online you’re familiar with the aggressive style of training that can make anyone squirm just by reading what they do for this protocol. I bring this up because it’s a great reminder during challenging times to realize that we are beyond fortunate to be in the situation we are in no matter what difficulties. Although we do not voluntarily put ourselves through hell like the SEALS in training, we have days, weeks, and months that can feel like absolute hell. Times where all you really want to do is run, scream or hide. Everyone feels this way and it can be ridiculously frustrating however, there are two constants to lean on during times like this.
First – the sun will set today and rise again tomorrow. At some point, you’re going to have to leave what you’re doing/ what’s got you a hot mess and frustrated and lay down for a moment. You cannot continue to blaze through difficult times endlessly and sometimes knowing there is an end is very helpful.
Second – Someone has it worse. Look at the SEALS who go through BUDS training. The majority of these soldiers in training are anticipating what it might be like, but one can guarantee at some point during their training shit goes completely left and they question their sanity and humanity. It is beyond a test of physical strength, it’s a test of mental strength and will. Part of the reason why they are the most respected is that people know how crazy you would have to be to make it through voluntary torture like BUDS. But the training is just practice and although it sucks during the duration of hell week, it can never simulate exactly what will happen when there’s real lives on the line and foreign territory that poses all different types of threats beyond one’s imagination.
If we remember this when we struggle and go through challenges, it will allow us to build mental toughness layer by layer in a more controlled way that probably involves less hypothermia and requires less medical attention. Someone right now has it worse than you. It’s only a moment in time and nothing lasts forever.
At that moment it can feel like things will never get better or never change but they do pass. In a week’s time, things start to seem like a foggy memory and after a few weeks, you can usually remember your frustrations level but not the minute details that drove you to insanity during that time. It’s important to remember this when you’re not in one of those moments. Keep this handy so you can whip out the strategic thinking when frustration consumes you. No one can escape these instances but we can do our best to minimize them and mentally prepare for how we’re going to regain control when it does occur. One of the thoughts to ponder that has always made me pause is this thought that all stress is self-induced. Natural stress – reactions to threats are programmed in our DNA but everything else is man-made and self-inflicted.