Killing via a screen, whether in drone warfare or seen in uncensored social media videos, removes the psychological burden associated with taking a life. This desensitization dangerously lowers the barrier to violence and erodes the profound weight that should accompany such an act.
The relentless 'never quit' attitude that is essential for success in elite military units becomes a significant liability in personal life. Applying this mindset to a failing relationship, for instance, can lead one to endure a decade of unnecessary hardship, harming themselves and their family.
The most deeply missed aspect of elite teams is the shared experience of suffering. Enduring painful and difficult challenges together creates a powerful bond and even a sense of joy that is impossible to achieve alone. This highlights that overcoming hardship with others is a fundamental human need.
People quit challenging endeavors not from physical exhaustion, but from the psychological overwhelm of focusing on how far they have to go. The key to endurance is to mentally break down a monumental goal into microscopic, immediate steps and focus only on completing the next one.
In a high-stakes situation like a military ambush, the most dangerous response is paralysis. Staying still allows the enemy to gain an advantage. It is better to make a move—even a potentially wrong one—to create momentum and disrupt the situation than to be frozen by indecision.
Glorifying special operators as superheroes creates unrealistic expectations that prevent them from acknowledging their own human struggles. This myth is damaging because they are, in fact, normal people who suffer from the same life ailments as everyone else, a fact that is often forgotten.
The most effective way to make someone quit is not through physical force but by verbally attacking their perception of time. By constantly reminding a person how much longer their suffering will last, an instructor can create a state of psychological overwhelm that forces them to give up.
Being the highly competent person others rely on can create a barrier to receiving support. People assume the 'strong one' has everything figured out and hesitate to offer help, leading to a strange inversion where competence results in isolation precisely when support is needed most.
The most dangerous phase of AI in warfare is when humans are removed from the decision-making loop. Once one adversary adopts fully autonomous weapons, others will be forced to do the same to remain competitive, creating an unavoidable and terrifying technological arms race.
The same psychological strength that allows high performers to endure professional hardship becomes a weakness in their personal lives. Their ability to override discomfort and push through pain causes them to tolerate toxic relationships far longer than they should, mistaking a warning sign for just another challenge to overcome.
The seemingly arbitrary and grueling tasks in SEAL training are not about the tasks themselves. Their true purpose is to instill an unwavering attention to detail and ability to follow procedure under extreme stress. This foundational discipline is what keeps operators alive when chaos erupts in real-world combat.
Despite advancements, AI's current role in elite military units is confined to planning and analysis. It provides intelligence packages but does not make the ultimate life-or-death decision to execute a mission. That responsibility remains firmly with the human ground-force commander, who assesses if the criteria are met.
You have little control over what happens to you, but complete control over how you respond. To be the 'author' of your life, you must stop blaming external circumstances and instead focus on what you can control: your actions, thoughts, and internal monologue. This shift from victim to author is crucial.