How to Stop Being Weak
On my first evening in Manhattan Beach, I slipped on a wetsuit and headed down to the Pacific with my buddy Derek. Five years before, we had spent a good hour floating around Santa Monica without either of us catching a wave. Derek, now an avid surfer, gave me a quick pep talk, and we went for it. Heading into battle, the lifeguard leaned out of his pickup truck and jeered, "Charge it, boys!"
Half an hour after charging it, I had zero at-bats and was getting tossed by the ocean. After inhaling a bucket of saltwater, I was ready to go in for my safety. Out of nowhere, I howled to Derek, "Dude, I feel like I need to quit, so that means I have 60 percent left in the tank." The revelation completely energized me; within minutes, I was tumbling back into the water after momentarily rising above the waves. I had finally caught a wave.
How did I know I had 60 percent energy left? I didn't really, but I once heard Navy Seal and psychoathlete David Goggins say, "I believe that most human beings are only living at about 40 percent of their capability." Is it really the truth? I don't know, but it doesn't really matter. What matters are results, and using this filter helped me find strength and catch a wave.
The Meaning Wave song which inspired this post: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x--84Ax8YfE