In mid-April I published a blog titled “Accept a little hardship”, written during my first of Three quarantine experiences in 2020 in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID19. A hardship I accepted aware of how little we knew about this virus in the beginning.

Six months on I want to clarify my point. While I still believe we all need to be able to accept hardship for the collective good; I believe we are accepting it in the wrong areas. The goal of saving every single life is resulting in the destruction of the country as we know it. Destruction of our culture, values and beliefs. The destruction of what we stand for as nation, a destruction born out of fear.

Over the past 6 months I have frequently read on social media a statement that goes like this;
“Good work Premier, keep the borders closed, keep us safe.”
What this translates to is;
“I’m scared Premier, please keep my family and I safe”.

I’m not really surprised. The media has portrayed a bleak picture of the virus and governments have implemented some extreme measures that will have long lasting effects on the nation in their attempts to eradicate it until a vaccine is found. Measures it appears the majority of Australians are willing to accept because they are afraid of the virus and want to be protected by the government.

The question is, is our own personal safety the primary role of the government?

We can’t hide from COVID forever. Even if and when a vaccine is found it will undoubtably not be 100% effective. Furthermore, into the future we will surely face new viral threats.  

Can we realistically save every life, forever?  

As in every crisis or disaster, it is more important to preserve the collective.  This is the exact reason we send soldiers away to fight and die in wars. To protect our way of life. It is why we accept and honour the 7,000 Australian defenders that died in the New Guinea Campaign during WW2.  Because we didn’t want to just accept the Japanese way of life. Instead we fought and suffered to preserve who we are as people.

We cannot hide from COVID19 now any more than London could hide from the German Blitz in 1940 and 41.

Churchill and the English could have stopped the German bombing by simply surrendering but in doing so sacrificing their way of life and identity as a nation.

Recognising this, Churchill did as any good leader does; he led the nation into the uncomfortable.

Compare this to today.
We are surrendering to COVID19 hoping it won’t hurt us or those we love. We are accepting the new COVID19 norms and destroying what it means to be Australian.

The book Tribe by Sebastian Junger offers some context. Exploring an individual’s belonging to a society particularly in the time of crises, disasters and catastrophes like war or earthquakes; he explains how collective hardship can increase belonging and bring a community closer together while working towards the common good.

“Humans don’t mind hardship, in fact they thrive on it. What they mind is not feeling necessary. Modern society has perfected the art of making people not feel necessary” he explains.

Why then, in 2020 here in Australia in the middle of our very own crises, does it seem like society is cracking at the edges?
Societal, economic and wellbeing issues are on the rise and concern for our leaders choices is growing.

I disagree that the leaders of the country are making the hard decisions. Instead they fall on the easy decisions, the convenient decisions, the popular decisions.  

For a lot of years Australia has been the lucky country. Lucky because our safe and comfortable existence aligned with the best interests of the country. Unfortunately now it does not. Every time I hear a politician say “the individual citizens are my priority” I cringe. The individual citizens are not the priority, the country is the priority, Australia is the priority. And as Australians we need to overcome the fear.

The choices of today will be felt well into tomorrow and in our dogged attempt to avoid sacrificing the lives of the people of the nation, we are sacrificing the nation itself.

What we need now is leaders who can create a new paradigm. Those who understand the long game and can operate in an environment of fear and uncertainty. Those that can lead us into the uncomfortable reality that is best for the nation, a nation whose anthem proudly celebrates “for we young and free”.
 
“Through every generation of the human race there has been a constant war, a war with fear. Those who have the courage to conquer it are made free and those who are conquered by it are made to suffer until they have the courage to defeat it, or death takes them.” -  Alexander the Great

Discharging from 16 years in the regular army I didn’t have to worry about getting a new job on “civi street”. I took the skills I had acquired in the Special Forces and went back to Afghanistan to work at the Australian Embassy as a security contractor with my mates. It was an easy transition from Defence and to be honest, some would say, hardly a transition at all. While there were a few major differences in my work before and after the ADF, there were a lot of similarities. Regardless, I enjoyed the challenge of private security contracting and spent the next six years after discharging from the army doing my best to keep people safe in complex and dangerous environments. 

The uncertainty and real transition for me came in 2016, when I finished working in Afghanistan.  

After 14 years of working on and off in the war troubled country, I returned to Australia with the goal of starting an adventure travel business in Tasmania. It was then I learned the real difficulties of being a small player in an industry where you have to compete for every client. As a veteran, I was running a few adventure hikes for former military and first responders, taking them into the wilderness to show them how good the adventure and tranquility can be for their mindset. Around this time, I was asked to speak to a group of military veterans about my experience post army. I remember answering a question about useful skills the military teach by saying; “Most of the skills the military teach us are not useful once you get out of Defence.” I was referring to skills like sniping, proficiency with a machine gun, blowing things up and techniques for destroying an enemy.  

A few years on, I now believe I answered the question poorly. At the time I wasn’t too different to a lot of other veterans (and society for that matter); I thought that getting out of Defence I needed to be totally retrained in order to fit back into normal society.  

How wrong I was.  

“What skills can we take from our military service that will help us in life on civi street. What skills do the military give us that make us better people. What skills should we never stop using. What skills make us more competitive in the job market and able to live a life full of passion, purpose and meaning. A life where we constantly improve and evolve?”  

If asked the question again today, my answer would be very different. 
 
The huge list of soft skills of course - the important skills in life.  
 
I believe there are two main types of skills in the life. Hard Skills and Soft Skills. The military teaches both.  

The strip and assemble of a belt feed general purpose machine gun or the best place to position your fire support in order to effectively suppress an enemy while you overwhelm them are hard skills. The more hard skills a soldier has, the more useful he is. Hard skills are the abilities and proficiencies that can be taught and trained. They are easy to recognise and test for competency. 

The real gold dust however lies in the soft skills we develop in the military. The behaviours, traits and non-technical abilities that relate to how we view and do things. 

For most people, having the marksmanship skills to hit an enemy in the chest at 800m loses its usefulness after military service. However, work ethic, flexibility, mental toughness, tenacity, patience and problem solving are key attributes that will see you succeed at whatever you choose to pursue post service. 
 
The Australian Special Air Service Regiment's (SAS) selection course, at the time I did it was the only course in the ADF not designed to teach you anything. Its goal is purely to determine if soldiers are suitable for training, to identify those with the soft skills and attributes to become Special Forces operators. Knowing that anyone, from anywhere, in the ADF can apply for the SAS is evidence to the order of priority this high performing team of professional soldiers place on these skills. Senior instructors know they can teach you to shoot later but it is a lot harder to teach you to want to learn, to have a positive mindset when situations look grim and display mental fortitude when things get hard. 

Likewise, in the civilian world today; it is why any human resource manager or selection panel worth their weight values these same skills when it comes to hiring new team members. They know it’s precisely these skills that will make you most successful in the workplace.  
 
So what are the personal traits and attributes that make up those desirable soft skills? 
 
The list is long, and examples include: 

• Mental and physical toughness,  
• Endurance, 

• Teamwork as well as the ability to work and achieve results alone, unsupervised, (having both, despite popular belief, is not common) 
• Risk management and the ability to accept risk, (something modern society is becoming less and less able to tolerate) 
• Conflict resolution and tolerance for other ideas, 
• Identification and management of your emotions, 
• Clear and concise communication, as well as listening skills, 

• Punctuality and time management, 
• Motivation and purpose, 
• Positivity and work ethic, 
• Prioritisation and problem solving, 
• The ability to self-evaluate yourself and your performance, 

• Adaptability and dependability; and 
• Interpersonal or people skills and empathy. 

 
The million-dollar question is how do we improve our soft skills? 

While it is quite easy to listen to a talk on leadership, it won’t instantly make you a good leader. Unlike hard skills that can be taught in a 40-minute lesson and cemented with practice over time; experience is the critical factor in soft skills. It is why there are thousands of highly educated yet poor leaders but also thousands of great leaders, communicators and problem solvers that have never taken a single class in it. Maybe their parents were good communicators or maybe they had a footy coach that was a great leader. Most likely they have just learned through experience what works and what doesn’t, how to get the best out of people and express their ideas, perfecting these skills over time since they were young.  

The common saying “you are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with” is also very relevant when it comes to soft skills. If your five closest friends tell you it is OK to hit the beers until late on a Sunday night making Monday’s performance at work sub-optimal; you will think the same. This in turn will likely erode other peoples (including your managers) perception of your personal traits, dedication for one. But if your close friends and work colleagues promote focus and the value of not letting the team down, you are more likely to have two beers then head home for a good night’s rest.  

Self-awareness is key with soft skills. Some you will undoubtably already have to a good standard – identify these so that they can go down on your resumé and help you win that next promotion. Equally as important, is recognising any areas that could do with improvement.  

A simple system of improving soft skills: 

1. Identify the soft skill you are lacking and want to improve. Be conscious of when you are using them 
2. Research these skills and possible actions to improve them 
3. Be aware and practice the skill 
4. Evaluate and collect feedback 

Improvement in your soft skills in life should be a steady and continuous cycle, one that never ends as they assist us in all aspects of life not just work. Good soft skills will assist us to live a purposeful life full of passion, meaning and unforgettable experiences. From the everyday moments in your family relationships, to the personal achievements and epic adventures you experience before your limited time comes to an end.  

In Summary: 

• Soft skills are non-technical skills that are transferable through life to everything you do. 
• They are harder to acquire, perfect and measure than hard or technical skills. 
• The military and emergency services are good at teaching soft skills. Veterans and front line workers often have well developed soft skills. 

• Soft skills can substantially enhance both your performance in the workplace and accomplishment in life. 
• You can consciously train and improve your soft skills and in doing so, improve your life. 

 
Written by Mark Direen,  former Australian SAS Soldier, adventurer and personal safety consultant.

Post task I have now returned to Australia and as a result, I have been placed in forced government quarantine in Sydney for 14 days.
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With first-hand experience of Australia, Mexico and the USA's management of the virus, it is interesting how differently each country has responded to the same threat. Having been in Australia from mid-February until mid-March and then in Mexico from mid-March to mid-April; I was in a unique position to see the two countries at approximately the same time in their evolution regarding COVID-19 and how their approach to the problem differed.

Up until this point, Australia is doing well compared to the rest of the world, with only 61 deaths as of the morning of the 14th April since the first cases were documented in mid-January. This is due to many factors, some being environmental and some being due to the decision making of our leaders.

It’s important to stress that every death is a tragedy but now is exactly when the hard conversations need to start.

How much isolation is too much for the country?

We all know that the coronavirus is not going away. Every week we keep people at home, every dollar we spend fighting it and every stimulus we offer makes it harder and longer for the country to recover. Assuming that the damage done doesn’t make it impossible to recover to our pre COVID-19 prosperity as a nation.

I have seen video after video on social media from both those infected with COVID-19 and those who remain in good health, scared and fearful for their lives. And while I feel that their fear is real, I do ask, is it justified?

Official figures show Australia’s road toll in 2019 was 1182 deaths. Why do you not see people making online videos because they fear they are going to die on their commute home from Christmas holidays? Is it because they feel they are in control when they are driving and can’t control if they contract the virus; or is it because they feel they understand one but not the other. We all agree that knowledge dispels fear.

This fear is a real issue for the country.

In terms of decision making in threating complex and chaotic environments, fear can distort your perception and change your reality. It is an area combat veterans are well versed in, having to accept the possibility of death to operate effectively. While this is something most Australians cannot and should not have to accept, it is vital that we as a nation understand the fear and believe in, and play our part, in the collective response.

Fortunately Australia, unlike Mexico doesn’t yet need armed soldiers patrolling the streets ready to combat insurrections. We all believe in supporting those who lose their jobs with food, housing, and health care which in turn helps prevent civil unrest.

But where we are still on the back foot as a nation, is our ability to overcome fear and endure hardship for the collective good.

Those returning to Australia after the 28th March are a great example. These are people assessed by experts as the highest risk of carrying the virus and therefore subjected to 14 days of compulsory isolation. While not all complain, we hear many examples from that group stating “they treat us like criminals, the food is appalling the rooms are small and we get no exercise or sunlight.” The constant stream of articles coming out about how hard the compulsory isolation is for international travellers is upsetting. Upsetting because the statements are selfish and don't present any solutions to the problem.  There are always improvements that can be made in the handling of any crisis but public outcry about being confined to a hotel room when you could be carrying a contagious virus is not helpful. Would we rather be traversing the same course as New York, Jakarta, Mexico City, Italy or Spain. These places possibly made poor decisions early.

When you think about the sacrifices our emergency services, essential workers and volunteers are making, being housed and feed for two weeks fades into insignificance. For their love of their community, these people graciously accept risk and suffering.

We could all ask ourselves to do the same during this national and global crisis.

Comparatively to the rest of the world and our history, as a country we are still doing well. For the overwhelming majority, we still have shelter, food on the table, water, power, schooling, entertainment and in most cases family around us. We have it good. I would almost say in this time of crisis we have it too good. At some point, we are going to have to accept a certain amount of suffering for the good of the country. That sliding scale between saving life and sacrificing for the country we love is a real balancing act and a responsibly on our leaders and decision-makers that must weigh heavily.

I suggest that we as team members of Australia should be starting to think, in our own small way, like a warrior or soldier. Where can we help for the common good? In this time of crisis that might be an extra shift at the hospital, continuing to work to help keep the economy moving, staying at home to navigate your children’s remote education or simply staying in your hotel and slowing the spread.

Regardless of where you are needed, it’s time to come together.
​
To show gratitude.

To share the responsibility.

To accept a little hardship.

Top photo is an empty flight from Mexico to the USA. Bottom Photo are the homeless sleeping on the streets of Houston, Texas. A city with an estimate of over 5000 homeless. 

My thoughts for the day.
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Unfortunately, I'm reminded that today was going to be the start of our first VARP event in Tasmania. While a week ago it seemed like one of the hardest decisions I've had to make in a while, today it looks like postponing the training was the right decision. Looking at Europe and other countries further down the virus time-line, the current crises in Australia will undeniably get worse before the country recovers.

Several times over the last week I have seen similarities in our home communities that I experienced while serving in war zones. Environmental kaos, uncertainty of the future, decision making with limited information and threats to your health and safety are just a few. Like veterans returning from threatening and uncertain environments, for you there can be adverse consequences for not only your physical health but your mental health as well. As a community, I feel it is important to thank people like our nurses and doctors who are on the front lines fighting this threat for us, as well as our police and other essential services that will keep us alive through this difficult time. Their exposure to risk is the highest.
My small bit of advice. Look after yourself both physically and mentally. Do your part to fight our common enemy, Covid-19 or the Coronavirus. Even if you do not work in an essential service you can help in the fight by listening to and doing as our community leaders ask. Physical separation to slow the spread and thinking of the community before ourselves. Also while we put our personal lives on hold and work towards our common good, plan for your future. Just like a soldier does during deployment, think about what you are going to do after this operation is over. While you may not be able to put a timeline on your future goals you can start planning them. As many Aussie Digger’s over the years have thought about that first beer at the local pub after getting home, you to can plan. Research that next family camping adventure, tinker on the boat in the back yard and get it ready for the next big trip, or even plan that experience to a foreign culture. Not knowing when you will be able to action your plans does not mean they won’t happen. Like exercise, good natural food and sleep helps you stay physically healthy; dedicating time to your passion, planning for the future and understanding your purpose will assist you in staying mentally strong.

I personally look forward to climbing my next mountain in Tasmania with a potential future adventurer. Showing them the best place on the planet and opening their eyes to their potential is what I will be thinking about.
Mark

​12 months ago in France, I wrote a blog called “Courage circa 1918”. As I recently hiked the Kokoda track I was reminded of this story about Walter Brown and the traits Aussie soldiers on the track had in common with the ANZAC’s in the trenches.

While the Western Front in World War One and the hot jungles of Papua New Guinea were very different places; it was sobering to consider the similarities in the ANZAC’s that fought at each place. At the Isurava Memorial today the four words courage, endurance, mateship, and sacrifice are etched into stone and they absolutely sum up both generations of Diggers. It was these four words and the story of Corporal Charlie McCallum that kept coming back to me as I walked the track.

I first read about Charlie McCallum the night before I started the trek across Kokoda and was privileged to walk the ground he did. Charlie was a magnificent example of not just courage but also endurance, mateship, and sacrifice. His story is worth telling again, as he is a true Australian hero.

VX15241 Corporal Charlie Reginald McCallum
As the battle of Isurava on the Kokoda Track and the fighting with the Japanese intensified on the 29 August 1942, the order was given for the 2/14 Infantry Battalion to withdraw. The Japanese had attacked with such ferocity, 12 Platoon, B Company became overwhelmed and to break contact from the Japanese would have certainly meant taking many casualties.

It was in these frantic moments that a wounded Corporal Charlie McCallum took the initiative and put it all on the line for his mates. Calmly standing his ground, with a Bren gun in his right hand and a Thompson sub-machine gun from a wounded friend in the other, Charlie singlehandedly defended the Platoon position against waves of advancing enemy soldiers while his mates safely withdrew.

I read that in the heat of battle, an extraordinarily calm Charles was changing magazines on the Bren gun while fighting with the Thompson and at one point the enemy got so close that a Japanese soldier pulled a piece of equipment of his belt. When his Platoon retired to safety and he himself fell back; it is said that up to 40 enemy soldiers lay in front of him on the battlefield.

Although recommended for a Victoria Cross for his courage in the face of the enemy, Charles received a Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). It is said that this was only because Private Bruce Kingsbury, also from the 2/14 Battalion was awarded a VC for bravery and the higher command did not want to award two in the same battle.

Charlie McCallum’s citation reads:
‘At all times in action, McCallum was admirably calm and steady. On this occasion, his utter disregard for his own safety and his example of devotion to duty and magnificent courage was an inspiration to all our troops in the area. His gallant stand and the number of casualties he alone inflicted checked the enemy’s advance and allowed the withdrawal to proceed unhindered and without loss’.
​
It is hard to comprehend the bravery Charlie displayed and inspired in those around him on the Track. It is also clear that the courage Charlie displayed at Isurava was not a single event. On the 8 September 1942, just one week later, at Brigade Hill, Charlie McCallum was killed in action.

In terms of criminal activity, did you know most criminals go through a victim selection process to assess the ease with which they could overpower a victim. This is often based on nonverbal signals which victims are usually not even aware of.     
 
Attackers fear failure so one of the most important aspects of personal safety success is the ability to make yourself a hard target.  You may not be an MMA champion but let's not tell the world that. 
 
Some practical rules:

• Move with purpose and confidence 
• Don't look like a tourist - avoid shorts, thongs, fanny pack, camera on display
• Dress local and modest – the more flashy your attire, the more of a target you can become
• Be situationally aware - put your phone and camera away while on the move 
• Avoid traveling alone in hazardous areas
• Learn about where you are going - study up and have a plan. Know the routes to your destinations, be aware of landmarks, transport, police, medical aid and safe areas (Embassy or Consulate)
• Talk to the locals - for in country advice on how to behave and move in public
• Trust your gut – when something feels off it generally is              

 
Speak with authority if a stranger approaches and never negotiate your own security in the name of politeness. Avoid soft responses like "maybe”, "sorry” and "I’m not sure”. Instead, be firm and say "No."
Don't give them an inch or let them gain more control. Turn your “No” into a complete sentence and take charge of your personal safety.
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Looking to learn more about Personal Safety. Talk to us today about our tailored Personal Safety training for individuals and workplaces today.
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​At Point Assist we practice what we preach. Each of our Point Tactics instructors possess a resilience built through their own personal experiences and challenges. Find out more about the team who will be leading the charge at our upcoming March event.  

​​Mark Direen - Former Australian Special Forces team leader, with over 20 years military service. A high threat environment security consultant & performance coach.

What is the most valuable lesson your military experience taught you?
The ability to accept failure, to learn from it, adapt, improve, and strive forward again towards your goal despite inevitable setbacks. A dogged determination to never give up on yourself.
 
Most challenging hurdle you have faced and how you overcame it?
 An IED attack in Afghanistan in 2007. Both physically and mentally I was injured by my failure. But, over time, I came to appreciate I was also rewarded , developing an understanding of how to survive and thrive in the most difficult fight of all, the one inside your head.
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Why do you do what you do?
I seek to improve myself and assist others who also strive to improve. I have a hunger for freedom, and adventure, living each day to its fullest on my own terms so that when my time comes there are no regrets. 

​Kev Toonen - Strength & conditioning coach with over 15 years Australian military service and five years managing high performance programs.

What is the most valuable lesson your military experience taught you?
That the mind is primary. Being continually placed in conditions that challenged me physically and mentally for long periods of time over the last two decades, taught me a very good lesson, ‘you are capable of a lot more than you think you are’ Overcome the hurdle and then use it as a stepping stone to attack the next situation that comes your way. 
 
Most challenging hurdle you have faced and how you overcame it?
Understanding fear. Having a process or a mental checklist to move through situations that I’ve built up irrational fears to.  Being logical rather than emotional about things gives a real clarity to most situations. It takes time to develop but is very worth it.
 
Why do you do what you do?
I love the way training breaks down you physically and mentally. The way your inner voice can suggest easy ways out when you’re suffering or how it keeps you in check and develops more resilience. And coaching is the greatest “job” in the world. Having people learn and develop in front of me daily is a very rewarding and humbling experience. 

​​Dave Farrell - A distinguished 17 year military career as an Infantry soldier, physical trainer and Special Forces operator. Successful businessman, executive leadership coach and consultant.

What is the most valuable lesson your military experience taught you?
My number one lesson is very simple. Never ever, ever give up! Keep going, even if it feels like you are going backwards, just keep going. 
 
Most challenging hurdle you have faced and how you overcame it?
 I don’t really have one in particular but any time l am challenged l stop, take a breath, think logically and unemotionally, come up with a workable course of action and get to it. Always refer to lesson #1 - never give up. 
 
Why do you do what you do?
I run a company named Veterans in Construction employing veterans on major constructions sites. Nothing is more satisfying than to watch a fellow veteran grow and thrive due to an opportunity l provided.

What is the most valuable lesson your military experience?
​The humility to accept that failure will happen and the grit to use failure as an opportunity for growth and find a way.
 
Most challenging hurdle you have faced and how you overcame it?
Balancing the demands of being a husband, father, business owner and firefighter - I’ll let you know when I get it right.
 
Why do you do what you do?
Self-mastery. I enjoy experiences which take me away from my comfort zone both physically and mentally. These moments allow for growth. Sometimes you get it right, sometimes you get it wrong, and that’s okay, just keep learning.

To learn from this elite team, join us at Point Tactics running 1-2nd March, 2019. Email now to secure the last of our remaining spots. 

Whether you are in a foreign country or visiting the local shops, situational awareness is a skill worth having. Staying out of trouble is always better than knowing how to get out of trouble.

Situational awareness is the ability to observe and comprehend what’s going on in your environment and how it directly relates to you. This allows you to understand what actions to take in order to stay in control of your environment.

Being in control of your own environment is the only way to ensure your safety. Relying on others to look after you is a sure way to come unstuck.
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There are 3 simple steps to improving situational awareness and ensuring your perceived reality is aligned with the actual reality:

• Detect - be observant and collect information from your environment. Use all your senses to discover and identify the presence of everything in your environment. This can include other people’s future intentions, knowing what is normal for that environment and when that norm has changed.
• Comprehend - interpreting the information you detect and understanding what it means, e.g. the intended meaning of words and actions. Once we recognise and understand change we are able to better predict the future.

• Plan & Act – make a plan and commit to it. Take action to avoid danger and stay in control of your own environment.

 
At Point Assist we specialise in personal safety. Talk to us today for a training package to suit your needs.

Is it just me or are we now living in a society that seems to indulge itself in easy. We glamourise talent, give our kids awards just for participating, want everything to come naturally and believe a good life is one that is all just smooth sailing.

But I don’t agree. When you seek out easy, you build no immunity to hardship. You only have to watch the nightly news to see you cannot control everything, that in life hardship occurs and you need to be able to deal with it.

Hardly a day goes by when I don’t read about a struggling veteran, homeless or without purpose in life. It’s not that I don't think their struggle isn't real. I know full well the obstacles they have faced. Mistakes on the battlefield, injury, divorce, separation from my children and financial hardship. I’ve faced them too.

The difference?
I focus on developing from a life of hardship and I simply refuse to let difficulty beat me.

Maybe its sheer stubbornness and tenacity. If I get knocked down nine times, I will get up ten.
Maybe it was engrained into me during my Special Forces training with a culture of not being afraid of failure and endless hours of deliberate practice.
Maybe it is my "post traumatic growth" the experts talk about.
Maybe I strive to make the most out of life because I have witnessed adversity firsthand?
Maybe it’s all of the above.

I know I have made mistakes that almost got me killed and I believe I have avoided death a few times. Saddling up and getting out there when you know it could kill you regardless of how good your performance is makes you accept the things outside your control. And while that includes accepting death, it also means valuing life. Fear for your life over a prolonged time period like a combat veteran does and you gain a calm awareness that allows you to fully commit to each day. You develop a drive and motivation to train, learn, gain experience and improve.

The point is,

In life, it’s not how you succeed, it’s how you fail.
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No matter how skilled or seasoned or resilient, life will sometimes fight you and try to defeat you.
When you have setbacks or failures do not overreact.
Do not let them throw you off course and destroy your optimism.
Remove the emotion, step back and evaluate.
Find the lesson and learn from the experience.
Actively strive to improve yourself and your situation.
And have fun while you do it.
 
To quote one of my favourite sayings:
"Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one" - Bruce Lee

Looking for an opportunity to test your resilience? Try our Point Tactics self-improvement challenge, running 1-2 March 2019 in Hobart, Tasmania.

​Written by Mark Direen. A military veteran who has now found his passion for adventure travel and photography while exploring his new purpose in life of helping others improve.