What hostage rescue training can teach us about self-sabotage.
How to get out of your own damn way.
Have you hit a ceiling that you can’t seem to break through in your performance?
It doesn’t matter if it is related to fitness, sports, or work. Often, the answer isn’t in working harder or longer or trying new strategies; it's simply believing you can do better.
As a young Force Recon Marine going through my first Close Quarters Battle training course, I was nervous about qualifying.
We were training to be certified to conduct hostage rescue missions, which meant that the expected level of accuracy with the submachine gun and pistol was exacting.
The qualification was based on a total of 100 points. Shots hitting within a 3x5-inch brain and heart box earned 2 points, while lethal shots outside this area received 1 point, and all other shots scored zero.
I shot beside my Team Leader, who was obviously more experienced and a well-respected leader.
The qualification was conducted in several stages, with the targets scored after each stage and marked by the number of points dropped. Thus, by the final stage, the right shoulder of the target might have a list of stage scores like: -0, -1, -0, -2.
For the final stage, we shot on multiple targets while moving. This meant that the stage was conducted in relays. He went first, and I followed. His target was scored before I went, so I knew his final score before I shot the last stage.
Although I was a good shot and could come close, I could never beat him.
If he shot a 94, I shot a 92. If he shot a 97, I shot a 96.
I finally realized that I was limiting myself. I didn’t think I could shoot as well as he could, so I didn’t.
I was doing this unknowingly, but I was self-sabotaging.
I failed to do my best because I didn’t believe I was that good.
We do this anytime we start performing above the level we’ve established for ourselves.
When we perform better than we think we should, or when things are going better than we think they should, we unknowingly interfere by limiting our potential.
The first step in fixing this is to notice it. Where are you hitting a ceiling that you can’t break through?
Next, examine your beliefs about your performance and identify thoughts that could be limiting you. Why do you believe them?
Finally, start changing the narrative. It isn’t easy, but once you recognize that you are the one standing in your way, you can commit to reminding yourself that you are capable and deserving of more.
Then work your ass off to get it.
Until next week, Keep Walking Point
John