Embracing the warrior mentality for a successful New Year

Upon changing calendars, many people seek a change that is slightly more profound: within themselves.

Failed resolutions are widespread. Research conducted last month by the University of Scranton reports that 25 percent of resolutions fail within the first week.

To address the epidemic of sub-par will power, author and psychologist Beverly Flaxington wrote in a Psychology Today article, “We were really determined to succeed this time last year, and yet not many boxes got ticked off on our lists. Why is it so difficult to follow through and reach our goals as we initially intended to?”

She explained, “Every one of us could come up with a number of explanations and excuses, but these can be actually boiled down to just a few points.”

Flaxington cites unrealistic and vague resolutions, poor time management kills, unprepared mindsets, and distractions are the top five causes of failed resolutions.

Anyone who has ever pursued a goal can likely testify to the difficulty of remaining faithful to their original purpose. Giving up is easy.

Consequently, the time-tested and seldom-answered question arises: why not give up when things become difficult?

This is a question at the heart of the will-power epidemic and at the root of all failure.

For Navy Sea, Air and Land (SEAL) operatives, failure is not an option. Instead, they embrace the warrior mentality.

Retired US Navy SEAL Master Firearms Instructor, Neural-Pathway Training Expert, and author Christ Sajnog explained, “‘Warrior’ is a recognized role that has played a vital part in every great society. We must continue to embrace and support our warriors if we are to continue being the greatest nation on earth.”

Sajnog continues to list 12 qualities that together represent the warrior mentality, all of which play a part in the successful pursuit of goals: confidence, decisiveness, strength, skillfulness, activeness, aggression, vigilance, patience, bravery, loyalty, and lovingness.

Perhaps not all of Sajnog’s methods seem applicable or necessary for a New Year’s resolution. However, he argues that balance among the traits is necessary for success.

“Like yin and yang, warrior traits have two sides,” he explained. “If your life is unbalanced, the dark side will be the stronger force and your actions will demonstrate this fact.”

“Not being well rounded is the quickest way to become unbalanced,” Sajnog added.

He proceeds to give advice as to how to live like a Navy SEAL. At first glance, such a proposal might seem unnecessary to the pursuit of a New Years’ resolution.

However, the warrior mentality is highly applicable to all aspects of life, as Sajnog instructed, “Find something you’re afraid of and go do it. Everyone has fears—warriors overcome them.”

“Start establishing routines and habits in everything you do. We are what we repeatedly do,” he adds.

Although not a Navy SEAL, Flaxington recommended a similar warrior mentality in goal setting.

She explained, “You are the one who is first and foremost responsible for your success. Conversely, making excuses and not holding yourself accountable for your actions is a sure path to failure.”

To help ensure such accountability, Sajnog recommended to “write down your goals and core values. If you don’t have a map for your life, how will you get where you want to go?”

Regardless of whether or not resolutions are a part of the New Year, self-improvement and mental toughness should be recognized as instrumental to success.

The final piece of advice Sajnog gives (and arguably the keystone to the warrior mentality) is worthy of consideration when thinking about the New Year.

He concluded, “Become a master at everything you do. Everything in life is either worth doing well or it’s not worth doing at all.”