How to Build the Mental Toughness Required of Special Operations Selections

Most people, even scientists studying physiology and psychology, are puzzled by the mind-body connection. While we can classify and function areas of the brain, developing them determines toughness, attitude and why you want to do something challenging to achieve. The areas of the brain we understand well are thinking and feeling, but thoroughly understanding the "doing" part of the brain is complex.

Here is a question from an Army Special Forces hopeful with big goals:

Stew, I have a quick question about your opinion on the mental aspect of training for Army SF besides physical. I've got an idea, but it'd be easier to know what you think would help strengthen this; I've only seen the physical aspects of training. I want to be at the top of my class everywhere when I go through the pipeline. Thanks, T.E.

Whenever this question is asked, I go down a rabbit hole in psychology and physiology studies. While these are useful in naming the chemical processes that occur when people succeed at accomplishing tough things, the debate about what makes you tougher as an individual is a diverse list of options that work for others before you.

The rabbit hole traveled for this article taught me about the CAC model: Cognition, Affection and Conation. This trilogy of the mind has been studied for decades and primarily involves creating marketing strategies to urge customers to buy products and services. What makes us buy something after seeing an advertisement? In a basic nutshell, it's getting a person to think (cognition) that they need something, feel (affection/sensation) they want something, and pull the trigger and make the purchase (conation). What gets us to do something, especially when our thinking and feeling parts of the brain tell us the opposite?

Get Used to Making Things Uncomfortable

As a coach, my group special operations prep workouts are scheduled first thing at 6 a.m. Many participants drive an hour to attend. We also work out outside year-round when the temperatures can vary from the low 20s to the high 90s. I have found that the time and temperature of the workout affect the sensory part of the brain and require an override of the part telling us that it is too cold, and you are so comfortable in bed; why are you doing this to yourself? Then, as a coach, prescribing a workout that requires competition and a high level of intensity takes this process of getting tougher to the next level. There are days when the temperature, time and intensity combine perfectly to make someone dig deep and build toughness. This allows the brain to converse with each section and find an answer to the question: Why are you doing this? Having a solid why must be part of the process. What is Your 'Why'?

Applying this process to special ops selection performance requires you to push yourself to a point where it becomes mentally and physically challenging. There needs to be a time when you do not feel like working out, but you do anyway. There needs to be a time when you are running or rucking and want to stop, but you finish what you started. There needs to be a standard that you must reach, and then you must understand that exceeding the standard is the standard. This is all about your attitude.

The more you prepare, the better you are conditioned to handle the physical challenges, which helps you gain self-confidence. This attitude permeates everything you do as your confidence improves your cognition with experiences and lessons learned. You can start to understand

that there is no impossibility factor to achieving a special ops dream. The sensory (feel) part of the brain has begun to adapt to what was once extreme levels of discomfort and pain. You are now acclimated to doing hard things in challenging conditions. Because you are progressively preparing yourself for your future goals, you are willing to go above and beyond others' perceived limitations to attain them.

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