Tuesday Oct 31, 2023

92. Mind Fitness | Chris Irwin

Is our mental well-being separate from our physical health, or are they two sides of the same coin? In this episode of The Code, retired Navy SEAL commander Chris Irwin provides a deep dive into his post-military experiences, balancing both mental and physical tribulations. Through Rare Sense, he presents an innovative approach to mental health, coined "mind fitness," reshaping how we understand personal growth. Just as we recognize that no one else can achieve physical fitness on our behalf, Chris emphasizes the individual's role in nurturing and taking charge of their own mental well-being.

His concept emphasizes the importance of treating mental well-being with the same rigor as we do physical conditioning. He spotlights various "mind killers" - notably oblivion, suppression, and fear - and underscores the need to acknowledge and address these impediments. According to Chris, the foundation of mind fitness lies in cultivating awareness. From there, he explores the impactful realms of gratitude, emotional reflection, and the nurturing of curiosity. He asserts that engaging in skill enhancement and creative endeavors can act as potent antidotes to mental stagnation. Furthermore, Chris underscores the symbiotic relationship between physical health and mental resilience. Not to be overlooked, he advocates for the significance of community and genuine human connections as a remedy for isolation.

With a passion for turning theory into practice, Chris doesn't just talk the talk. Taking inspiration from CrossFit's WOD, he offers weekly mind fitness exercises via his substack, enabling listeners to actualize his teachings in their daily lives.

Key Takeaways:

• Mind fitness is a holistic approach to mental health that focuses on training the mind just like we train our bodies.

• The first step in mind fitness is becoming aware of our thought process and disidentifying with our thoughts.

• Rewriting the narrative of past experiences and practicing gratitude can help overcome destructive storytelling patterns.

• Processing emotions and learning to release stored energy in the body is crucial for mental well-being.

• Engaging in lifelong learning, problem-solving, and artistic expression can prevent stagnation and promote mental growth.

Quotes:

• "I tell people mental fitness is a lifelong pursuit, just like physical fitness is a lifelong pursuit. You never really get to the finish line. You're just trying to make yourself better and better each day, and then hopefully get to a point where it's essentially maintenance from that point on." (05:19 | Chris Irwin)

• “Your mind is the primary driver of everything. It is really the start point and end point for all fitness and thinking of it as a holistic fitness discipline, not a physical fitness and mental health thing, but this interconnected mind body solution that's really driven by your mind because it has to be.” (6:01 | Chris Irwin)

• "The purpose of meditation in my mind, for me, is not to become a great meditator. It's to be more aware the rest of my life." (25:24 | Chris Irwin)

Links:

Connect with Chris Irwin:

www.thischrisirwin.com

www.raresense.com

https://raresense.substack.com/

Links

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