Unleashing Unbreakable: What I learned about Mental Resilience by Reading Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins

When it comes to mental resilience, there’s no room for half measures.

You either build it or you don’t.

In fact, mental resilience is the bedrock of strong leadership. It’s not just about surviving challenges but about thriving and growing through them. David Goggins’ Can't Hurt Me is a powerful guide to building this resilience, offering lessons that can transform how you lead and live. We must go beyond the surface and confront the brutal truths about ourselves—this is where accountability, attachment theory, and an understanding of our unique personalities come into play.

Goggins wrote Can't Hurt Me to share his extraordinary journey from a challenging childhood filled with abuse, poverty, and racism to becoming one of the toughest endurance athletes and a decorated Navy SEAL. The book is Goggins' way of showing that true mental resilience and strength come from confronting and overcoming your inner struggles, fears, and self-imposed limitations. In effect, he offers a powerful roadmap to developing this critical attribute, combining his personal story of extraordinary challenges with practical, no-nonsense advice.

The 40% Rule: Pushing Beyond Your Limits

Goggins introduces the 40% Rule- a concept that will change the way you approach challenges. Here’s the deal: when you think you’ve hit your limit, you’re actually only 40% done. Most of us stop when we feel discomfort, but Goggins teaches us that our minds are wired to protect us, not push us. The key is to break through that self-imposed barrier.

For leaders, this is gold.

Imagine what your team could achieve if they realised they were only scratching the surface of their potential.

Accountability Mirror: The Power of Brutal Honesty

Goggins doesn’t sugarcoat it- if you want to build mental resilience, you have to start with brutal honesty. The Accountability Mirror is more than just a tool; it’s a challenge to face your flaws head-on. This kind of honesty is rare, especially in leadership, but it’s the only way to truly gauge where you stand. Without this, you’re navigating blindly, unable to make the necessary course corrections that lead to growth. The mirror doesn’t lie; it shows you where you’re falling short, where you need to push harder, and where you need to change. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s necessary.

In leadership, this honesty is crucial. When you’re willing to confront where your team is falling short, you set the stage for real growth. You take ownership not just of your successes but of your failures too. This level of accountability creates a culture of transparency and trust, where everyone is aligned and focused on continuous, collective improvement.

Attachment Theory and Mental Resilience

There’s another layer to this that Goggins touches on, albeit indirectly- the influence of attachment theory. Our early experiences shape how we respond to challenges and how we perceive our self-worth. For some, reading Can't Hurt Me might bring insecurities to the surface- insecurities rooted in attachment styles developed in childhood. Whether you have a secure, anxious, avoidant, or disorganized attachment style, Goggins’ lessons challenge you to face these ingrained patterns.

For those who lean far anxious, the Accountability Mirror might be daunting, as it forces you to confront fears of inadequacy, abandonment and fears of not being enough. For those with an avoidant attachment, pushing beyond the 40% Rule might mean tearing down the walls you’ve built around yourself. Understanding your attachment style allows you to use Goggins’ principles more effectively, turning vulnerabilities into strengths.

Callusing the Mind: Embrace Discomfort

Goggins frequently talks about “callusing the mind,” a concept that revolves around deliberately putting yourself in uncomfortable situations to build mental toughness. Just as calluses form on your hands through repeated physical stress, mental calluses form when you regularly push your mind beyond its comfort zone.

For leaders, this means stepping into challenging situations, making difficult decisions, and enduring the discomfort that comes with responsibility. It’s about doing the hard things, not because they’re easy, but because they’re necessary for growth.

The 16 Personality Test: Tailoring Resilience

Just as our attachment styles influence how we respond to challenges, so do our personalities. The 16 Personality Test, based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), can provide insights into how different personality types can best use Goggins’ teachings. For example, a highly analytical personality (like an INTJ) might resonate with the structured, disciplined approach of the 40% Rule, while a more empathetic personality (like an ENFP) might find deeper meaning in the Accountability Mirror, using it to align their actions with their core values.

Goggins’ teachings aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution- but rather more of a tailored to fit your unique personality and leadership style.

Building a Stronger You

David Goggins’ Can't Hurt Me is a masterclass in mental resilience. The lessons he shares are not just theoretical, but instead are forged in the crucible of his own life experiences. He teaches us that resilience isn’t just about bouncing back- it’s about pushing forward, relentlessly, no matter the odds. It’s about cultivating a mindset that doesn’t just endure challenges but grows because of them.

The question is, are you ready to face the truth, push beyond your limits, and break free from the self-imposed barriers that hold you back? Because the journey to mental resilience isn’t easy, but it’s the path to true leadership and lasting impact. The choice is yours—what will you do next to leave your mark?

I'm watching this space, and you should too.

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About the Author:

Jeev Sahni is a seasoned strategic leader with over a decade of experience in strategy development and operations, particularly within management consulting, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. His tenure at Becton Dickinson & Company was marked by significant contributions towards the company's growth and presence across the Middle East, including the successful launch of multiple disruptive infusion devices in the region. As a strategic advisor to multiple organisations, Jeev's strategic vision and execution capabilities have been instrumental in driving growth and innovation across various market segments across APAC, EMEA and LATAM.

An avid marathoner, Jeev's passion for purposeful growth stems from working with organisations such as Medicins Sans Frontieres towards developing frameworks that support mental health across all age groups, whilst being a corporate mentor to the BBA students at IE Business School.