Mental Strength: What You Can Learn About Resilience From The Special Forces
Jon Watkins is the co-owner of the multi-award-winning Resilience Development Co. and former special forces soldier. A specialist resilience and transformation coach who develops the skills and behaviours that enable people and teams to perform, adapt and thrive during periods of high pressure, change and uncertainty.
In today’s episode I chat with Jon Watkins a resilience and transformation coach and a former special forces soldier. Jon shares insights into some challenges that he overcame in the military and the importance of mindset. Goal setting is introduced, concepts such as self-leadership, natural resilience, adaptive resilience and psychological safety we also touch on and a lot more. Enjoy tuning in!
Key Learning Points:
- The selection process in the special forces produced likeminded mentally and physically robust individuals who shared collective goals and went on to create a fantastic environment to work in.
- Self-leadership was a huge part of the special forces.
- My comfort zone was pushed to its maximum.
- When considering goal setting, relating it back to your values is essential.
- Chunking down your goals is a skill that anyone can develop.
- Mental Toughness is built around that perseverance, never giving up element to it and being disciplined to live through your values.
- Resilience in general is about bouncing back.
- Natural resilience is the resilience that we’re born with.
- Adaptive resilience is heavily influenced by our environment.
Connect with Jon Watkins
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Other Useful Podcast Episodes
Ep065: Dr Amy Izycky – Encouraging Mentally Healthy Cultures in Sport
Ep066: Marilyn Okoro – Mental Health and Resilience: Lessons from an Olympic Medalist
Ep114: Tim Bradshaw – Because I Can – How To Get Out Of Your Own Way
Ep123: Richard Dorney – Supporting People: What Can You Learn About Resilience From The Military
Ep140: Chris Cook – How to Improve Your Mental Strength: Secrets from an Olympian
Other Useful Resources linked to Resilience
Blog – 5 Ways to Create a Psychological Safe Sporting Environment
Blog – 3 Tips to Deal with Bullying in Sport
Blog – Mental Health Guidance for Coaches When Supporting Athletes
Blog – Resilient and Mentally Tough: 9 Things You Can Learn From Tiger Woods
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Best Wishes
David Charlton
Global Sports Psychologist who is located near Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK and willing to travel Internationally. David also uses online video conferencing software (Zoom, Facetime, WhatsApp) on a regular basis and has clients who he has supported in USA, Canada, South America, UAE, Australian and New Zealand.
Managing Director – Inspiring Sporting Excellence and Founder of The Sports Psychology Hub. With over 10 years experience supporting athletes, coaches, parents and teams to achieve their goals, quickly.
T: +44 7734 697769
