Mental Fitness: 15 Rules to Strengthen Your Body and Mind

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Don't give bullies a chance to infect you with their misery- but use confrontation when it's needed. What he is an expert in is pushing through the most difficult circumstances. I learnt a lot from his experience of extreme physical and mental pressure and how to find your limits. You can push yourself through pain if you harness your mind and develop an excitement towards physical discomfort. Among his crew were a chef, a banker and a carpenter. Only one, Conrad Humphreys, had the navigational and sailing experience to complement Middleton’s skills of leadership and survival. It was a test of the captain’s resolve, not to mention the physical reality of 60 days at sea, during which he lost more than 10kg. Middleton describes it as one of the hardest things he’s done.

Mental Fitness by Ant Middleton | Waterstones Mental Fitness by Ant Middleton | Waterstones

Pay attention to people you invest in relationships with and talk about things you actually care about.Middleton recognises that the mind and body are often talked about as separate entities, but it’s only when they work in harmony that a person can reach their full potential. His 15 principles cover all aspects of his life and are his ‘bible’ for how he handles both his work and personal commitments. A lot of the principles equate to the manual of being a ‘good person’ but there are still a significant number of ‘ah ha’ moments and different takes on the subject that you could apply to your own situation. Personal growth is a leitmotif for Middleton. He is single-minded in his desire to better himself, as well as provide the mental tools for others to do the same. It’s a mission that strongly echoes the Men’s Health credo, though his messages are delivered with a percussive force and in rapid fire. In person, the volleys give you the irrepressible feeling that he’s onto something. About everything. You see everything and can plan it out. You know the enemy hasn’t been in that situation, so you go in feeling like you have the remote and can pause and play as you go. It’s hyper-confidence, approaching arrogance: ‘You can shoot as many rounds through that door as At the age of 38, he has lived more lives than most. He signed up for the army at 16, serving in the Royal Engineers in Northern Ireland and Macedonia, then joined the navy and the Royal Marines before entering the Special Boat Service (SBS), in a military career spanning 15 years. He has climbed Everest and captained a team of average men across 4,000 miles of the Pacific Ocean in a rudimentary rowing boat. He’s a Sunday Times bestselling author of two books and father to five children. He has been in prison.

ant middleton - mental fitness – HarperCollins Publishers UK

The lessons he echoes are crucial to not just a life demanding physical and mental toughness but generally any meaningful life. Here's what I took from each lesson: The idea of going all in on each aspect of your life is an attractive one, with clear benefits to the average man. Predictably, though, Middleton’s “challenges and adventures” tend to be more challenging and adventurous than a long Sunday bike ride, or a 10K every now and then.

Most people don’t think about their emotions,” he says. “When an emotion surfaces, nine times out of 10, people let it take over. Fear is the main one: fear of the unknown, fear of conflict, fear of failure. We don’t see the emotion for what it is. The crucible was a windless 10 days that left them bobbing listlessly in the South Pacific heat. Humphreys wanted to start rowing, hoping to hit a zephyr of wind to get them going. But Middleton’s instincts told him to preserve the crew’s energy, despite the rumblings of discontent. My purpose in life is to be the best version of myself. And it’s a fascinating journey when you look at it like that. And you’ll never get there. That’s the point.”