Eric Greitens

Navy SEAL. • Rhodes Scholar, Ph.D. • NY Times Best-Selling Author. • Governor. • Athlete. • Humanitarian. • Proud Dad.

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

Finally, justice.

Kim Gardner broke the law and broke countless families under her lawless reign. May she be held fully accountable for her crimes against me, and the people of St. Louis.
https://t.co/XedqaFUKTg

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

THE 'HOW ARE YOU FEELING' TRAP:

The trap of culture today is asking you, "How are you feeling?"

What you do will determine how you feel. If you're doing something that brings disservice to your body or your mind, you will reap what you sow.

If you do fifty push ups, you will feel a lot better than if you went out partying all night.

Decide who you want to be, how you want to feel, and act that way.

LEARN MORE: https://t.co/TClP3yytnA

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

BRUTAL TRUTH ABOUT THE NAVY SEALS:

When I joined the United States Navy, I had one option: succeed. The other option, wasn't an option.

It was one of the best decisions I've ever made and I'm honored to have been part of such a tremendous group.

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

Your purpose is not found, it is created.

You create your purpose by the things that you do. You take actions, you find the effect that you can have in the world, and the world responds and let’s you know, “We need more of this from you.” It’s that way that your mission is actually created.

We must remember to do more than think about just ourselves. When we realize that our family, our friends, and our communities need us, we can use that to make a greater impact – one that is larger than ourselves. As you start to serve others, you will rebuild your sense of purpose.

Your purpose is not found sitting there between the seat cushions of your couch or lost in the bed of your truck.

Your purpose is forged.

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

Q. Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Eric: "When I first began training to become a Navy SEAL, we were told to write our names on every piece of gear that they gave us in BUD/S: every knife, every piece of clothing, every fin.

The fins I was given had several names on it: Walker, Rodriguez, and Herman – they didn’t make it through training. I crossed their name out and wrote down my own, “Greitens”.

I was immediately made aware of the brutal training that awaited me and the rest of the Class.

We stood on the beach for hours, braving the wind and the sand, the cold water lapping at our feet. We would pick up a log and run with it for miles, drop it. Pick it back up. Run back. Test after test. Cold. Wet. Covered in sand.

The instructors made it very easy to quit; they encouraged it. If you wanted to quit, at any time, all you had to do was ring a nearby bell three times, lay your helmet down, and immediately leave. As each day passed, the line of helmets grew longer. Sometimes they’d even bring the bell closer, tempting you to give up.

As we stood there, side by side, you’d hear the bell ring out and were reminded that you could leave any time…but many of us didn’t.

I would look to my left and look to my right, realizing that if I could take one more step, if I could be strong for the man to my side, they could be strong for me. Together we braved the challenge. Together we refused defeat, even when others decided to ring the bell.

That’s resilience. Not the absence of pain or setback, but the stubborn refusal to let it have the final say."

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

MOST IMPORTANT QUALITIES TO DEVELOP:

Courage – The most important thing that you can do for yourself, is to learn to do the good thing that you are afraid to do. Ask yourself: when are you going to start doing what you know you must do? Over time, doing this makes courage into a habit – you will no longer be standing there wishing for resilience, you will be standing there…resilient.

Compassion – We are here to make a difference in the world and often must realize that we are serving a purpose much larger than ourselves. It is through acts of kindness and love that we can truly change our community and in turn, change the trajectory of the world and the course of history.

Purpose – We all have a gift or a calling. The more you work in and develop your gifts, you become your best self, and the world benefits from you being fully in it. Forging your purpose is something that you get to and must do.

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

Q. Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Eric: "When I first began training to become a Navy SEAL, we were told to write our names on every piece of gear that they gave us in BUD/S: every knife, every piece of clothing, every fin.

The fins I was given had several names on it: Walker, Rodriguez, and Herman – they didn’t make it through training. I crossed their name out and wrote down my own, “Greitens”.

I was immediately made aware of the brutal training that awaited me and the rest of the Class."

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

THE REAL CURE FOR BOREDOM:

When we're bored, it's natural to think excitement is the cure.

It may work in the short-term, grabbing our attention, but eventually you'll find it needs meaning to be worth your time.

Without meaning, everything becomes spectacle and spectacle becomes exhausting.

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

You have to master the one who throws obstacles in your way!

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

One of the greatest mentors in my life is my former boxing coach, Earl Blair.

He was a warehouse employee by day, and by night he trained boxers in the inner city. He turned young men into champions by not only teaching them how to box well, but how to live well. One of the most important lessons Earl ever taught me was about strength (and not just physical strength).

Earl taught his boxers that every person has God-given strength. Therefore, every person has a duty to use their strength in the service of God. Sometimes that meant throwing a jab properly. Sometimes that meant helping train and counsel a young kid who found his way into Earl’s gym. The worst thing anyone can do is waste their strength. Earl would always push us, “What did my Father give you muscles for? What did he give you brains for? Now, I may not be the smartest man on the block, but I know my Father didn’t give me what I have to waste it.”

His training was not only a boxing lesson, it was a constant life lesson – a daily reminder that we are only as powerful as we choose to be.

Earl always told me and all of the men he trained, “If you want different, do different.” Not just in the boxing ring. In life.

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

JUDY HENDERSON STORY:

As many of you know, I had the pleasure of releasing Judy from prison and giving her a pardon on her life sentence without parole.

Recently, I went with Judy and Judd Shaw to Anguilla to cross something off her bucket list, a list she made in prison...

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR POSITION:

Where you are currently does not dictate where you have to be five years from now.

After returning from deployment, my buddy and I began writing each other about the challenges we faced at home.

These letters are the base of my book Resilience.

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

DECIDE WHO YOU ARE, ACT THAT WAY:

Ask yourself who you want to be and starting acting like it.

Do you want to be the courageous man standing by his team or the guy who doesn't show up to the fight because he's afraid?

You always have a choice.

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

One of the reasons why the system is so broken is that young people go into a career with a good intentions, but then become corrupted.

They meet the lobbyists. They meet the insiders.

"If you want to make more money, come work for us."

So they do and the cycle continues.

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

Q. Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Eric: "When I first began training to become a Navy SEAL, we were told to write our names on every piece of gear that they gave us in BUD/S: every knife, every piece of clothing, every fin.

The fins I was given had several names on it: Walker, Rodriguez, and Herman – they didn’t make it through training. I crossed their name out and wrote down my own, “Greitens”.

I was immediately made aware of the brutal training that awaited me and the rest of the Class."

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

@BobbyCamer37592 Hooyah!

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

MOST IMPORTANT QUALITIES TO DEVELOP:

Courage – The most important thing that you can do for yourself, is to learn to do the good thing that you are afraid to do. Ask yourself: when are you going to start doing what you know you must do? Over time, doing this makes courage into a habit – you will no longer be standing there wishing for resilience, you will be standing there…resilient.

Compassion – We are here to make a difference in the world and often must realize that we are serving a purpose much larger than ourselves. It is through acts of kindness and love that we can truly change our community and in turn, change the trajectory of the world and the course of history.

Purpose – We all have a gift or a calling. The more you work in and develop your gifts, you become your best self, and the world benefits from you being fully in it. Forging your purpose is something that you get to and must do.

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

READ THE ARTICLE:
https://t.co/dbrWhxH2a0

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

@catturd2 Hooyah!

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

READ MORE:
https://t.co/dbrWhxH2a0

[Eric Greitens @EricGreitens]

FORGE YOUR OWN PURPOSE:

"Eric, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?"

Eric: "Your purpose is not found, it is created.

You create your purpose by the things that you do. You take actions, you find the effect that you can have in the world, and the world responds and let’s you know, “We need more of this from you.” It’s that way that your mission is actually created.

We must remember to do more than think about just ourselves. When we realize that our family, our friends, and our communities need us, we can use that to make a greater impact – one that is larger than ourselves. As you start to serve others, you will rebuild your sense of purpose.

Your purpose is not found sitting there between the seat cushions of your couch or lost in the bed of your truck.

Your purpose is forged."