What are You Responsible For? Navy SEAL Eric Greitens on Resilience | Big Think

[@bigthink]

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[@hiwayM9]

I want to rage against the reasons why Zach went to war, had to be tough, and found himself with PTSD and arrested and calling the narrator- then I have to remind myself that is not doing anything to help the immediate situation. Zach is fortunate to have a friend and sounding board like Mr. Greitens.

[@GodisGreatst]

"What are you responsible for?" That's profound.

[@passionearmiariacompressa883]

His book is one of the best I have ever bought and read and definitely a great book of psychology and philosophy. Read it for your life and then give it to someone who need a little help

[@BiondBoom]

I have always been fascinated with resilience and immediately downloaded the audiobook version of this book after watching this video. It may be the book that hits closest to home for me and is extraordinarily well done. I couldn't be more impressed with the type of guys Eric and Zack are and am thankful we are protected by these type of Men. I'd love to have a long conversation with Eric since I know for a fact I would leave with inspiration and clarity rarely found elsewhere in this world. For now I will settle for reading his books.

[@jamescaputo9356]

I can't suggest this book enough.

[@adamcrookedsmile]

I was most impressed by Zach when he bought a concrete pumper, started his own business and was a good father to his kids.

[@Michael-4]

What a wonderful video. And you can write a letter to yourself as if you were writing to your own best friend.

[@shkotayd9749]

Life can be mean, ugly, and often endlessly unfair. It will knock you down and beat you and keep you there if you let it. The successful people in this life are the ones who realize shit will go wrong, shit happens and wrecks everything, and they succeed anyways. While this was a tad bit of a sales pitch, he did bring up some critical points. You get a hold on your problems when they show up, you do not let your problems get a hold on you.

[@OmniphonProductions]

I love the suggestion of taking responsibility for SOMETHING. So many in today's world are self-paralyzed by a "victim mentality" born greatly out of the idea that NOTHING is their responsibility or EVERYTHING is beyond their own control. It's startlingly sad how many people feel "traumatized" by nothing more than the ups and downs of being alive.

[@Alex-md5sv]

When you're a legend in your own mind but a pawn to everyone else

[@roflmows]

i have a purposeful life. i watch youtube videos and eat oreos.

[@JohnSpence]

I just finished reading the book, it is absolutely spectacular. I have read more than 100 books year for the last 25 years and I would now put this in my top 10. I underlined page after page - he offers some incredibly insightful, powerful and potentially life-changing ideas. I want to recommend this book to everyone I know.

[@GreenSkyFalling]

+John Spence FUCK YOU SHILL. and FUCK THIS NAVY SEAL, LIAR BS.

[@RickLindstrom]

I've read 50 books a year for the past 10 years and I completely agree.

[@sloppybukake6508]

So this was just a ad for his book?

[@HandsomeDevill7]

Thank you for your service and for the wisdom.

[@pacnite]

By service you mean murder? Well done.

[@VengefulLeprechauns]

pacnite The guys probably a much better and tougher man than you could ever hope to be.

[@stevebyerley3853]

+pacnite you should read this man's bio and/or book "the heart and the fist." The man was a humanitarian helping war refugees overseas years before joining the SEAL teams. His calling is to protect the weak (liberating the oppressed), it is much more than killing. It's hard for us to imagine because we are privileged to live in the west, but there are places overseas where civilians are being terrorized by their own people. This man has volunteered to help protect defenseless people. There's a lot of beauty in that. The heart of a warrior is often misunderstood.

[@qhack]

Many people in society today could utilize his strategy of focusing on taking responsibility for something small and then expanding it once they are comfortable with that responsibility. The people who are self made successes in life tend to live outside of their comfort zone. One doesn't need to be extreme to make their situation in life better, but it is a great way to pull yourself out of despair.

[@gabrielpalencia8023]

A lot of hate coming Greitens' way from this video.. I highly recommend reading his Heart and the Fist if you haven't. In it he talks about why he decided to become a SEAL, and it is incredibly selfless and motivating. At the time he decided to go to Navy OCS, he had an offer to start an academic career at Oxford as well as to make 6 figures for a consulting firm, but he opted instead for the relatively measly pay you make as a Navy Lieutenant and service to the military all so that he could go "Fight the World's Fight". He decided that instead of talking about all the hate you see in the world and how to prevent it, it'd be better to go out and DO something about it.. Great man right here. Also, this video was likely not a 'sales pitch' for his book (even it if was, still has a good message). I find it much more likely that Big Think interviewed Greitens about the message of his book than I do that that he proposed to Big Think to just sit down and come talk about his book and boast about his life.

[@ChrizoPrime]

I expected specious statements and condescending attitudes from the comments section, and was not disappointed.

[@rorygallagher2055]

The negativity in the comment section for this video comes off as pathetic and sad.

[@TheSpiritOfTheTimes]

+Rory Gallagher Not really, the consensus among the Navy Seal community is that this guy is a major fraud, a turd in their slang, and this is very easy to find out online.

[@user-nk6qr8te6h]

That's why its called the brotherhood🐸🔱

[@whoisjp]

needed this right now. thank you

[@bigthink]

Hope that you liked it, Flerb!

[@SirAmicVarze]

The point should be less about assuming that you can control things and more about at least having that illusion. Controlling your breathing is largely useless in 99.9% of situations but using that as a means to think that you have control will go a long way towards morale and eventually motivation.

[@Mediakillers]

Would love to hear about some Mental Tools or practices that common folk can use to build resilience.

[@mithrius2]

Wow. This was the first Big Think that I can remember with no actual value--only a sales pitch.

[@josephsuh8934]

Dumbass..

[@T3hTroll]

darkfall13 it's okay man. he's a bandwagoner.

[@writerconsidered]

disagree, he hits at the core of human instinct and understands what humans crave. As navy seal he's not all macho he understands humans are fragile and break all the time and he's trying to redirect that.

[@jonathanhole2972]

There are degrees of hardships

[@DavidHancock]

Grietens has a lot of good thoughts and points. And I would very much like to read his book to learn more. However, Big Think, I'm disappointed in this video which feels like the videos that play before the content I actually want to watch. I hope this does not mark a new stylistic approach for your channel.

[@David-bp5wp]

Excellent book, good & easy read.

[@stg-4476]

Why do so many ex military with PTSD turn to alcohol which only makes people more depressed, angry, and violent instead of marijuana which has the opposite effect? I just don't get it.

[@ZaggerG]

Cause its legal and it washes away all the pain even if its temporary.

[@45von]

You May find temporary comfort in 'religious tradition'... But you will ultimately be More independent and free If you closely look at the fundamental beliefs in your particular religion... under close scrutiny it will become obvious that religion is a manufactured system that may help you cope with reality... but actually has No reality itself.

[@writerconsidered]

If you need to discard religion that's fine but try something different be a praying atheist, I am.

[@S3CR3TL3V3LZ]

+writerconsidered My breathing is the only prayer I ever wanted or need.

[@ama-tu-an-ki]

Hindsight: don't go into foreign lands, killing people you don't know and who are not attacking your country or family, and expect to get a full hero outfit, mentality and treatment, when you come back. Navy Seals, tough or not, are just cannon fodder for the system. Don't fall for it. There is nothing resilient or brave about illegally occupying another country and fighting their mostly civilian population. It's brave and resilient to stay true to your values, be humane to all living beings and resist brainwashing propaganda from our government. Help your friend, as a human being, like Eric did. No ammo needed for that. Best of recovery!

[@rrestrictedcontentvideogam1060]

+nanomyou5 Lol shutup

[@petestrat07]

+nanomyou5 So true. I admire their strength determination however their values are questionable to say the very least.

[@petestrat07]

***** In your opinion, of course :-)

[@petestrat07]

You merely stated that the OP has no idea what he or she is talking about. Nothing more, and nothing less. That, my friend, is purely your opinion and I happen to disagree with you, which is my opinion.

[@nickjamesbitch2]

+nanomyou5 nothing makes u feel more alive than being in the face of death

[@shedijon]

had to watch this twice, the first time I just stared at this upper lip the whole time and trying to figure out what that is.

[@ArmAVidz]

I can't argue with stuff a Navy Seal says. Dammit.

[@FMLevatation]

What is the book called? The one he mentioned.

[@aturtledarkly5947]

Eric Greitens is my man crush.

[@gnatbermbaum6102]

He was. A democrat the switched, and is all of a sudden a conservative.

[@bioshock669]

merp

[@reyh9894]

Control/responsability nice gaps!

[@gnatbermbaum6102]

I admire what he has done. But it's almost too perfect-the whole story. He's put out there like Mother Theresa.

[@Night-rage]

I wonder if he *takes responsibility* for all the things he had to do as a seal, and not just shoves it onto "I was following orders" and "The people deserved to die because my government doesn't agree with them"

[@VengefulLeprechauns]

Or the people deserved to die because they were planning terrorist plots that would have killed thousands of people.

[@georgethornburg4882]

This guy never served in a Seal unit, not saying he didn't pass the training, but that's as far as his "Seal" career went. Complete fraud, paper pusher.

[@ShaqEalOatmeal]

Ignorant comment man, and you are a coward. Seeing this comment 5 years later and I can confidently say you are a moron, without dudes like this who are willing to die for your freedom, these people youre talkin ab that he killed.. would be in your backyard, terrorists arent your friend buddy.

[@liggel04]

I wonder how Zach is today.

[@Wowwhataswing]

Lol such great guys coming out of the navy seals 😂😂😂

[@rtjtjcdihgysupdrzvorief]

What are You Responsible For? Not going to war.

[@strikedizzle]

Instead of buying a book. Donate to a wounded veterans fund and tell congress to stop sending us to meaningless wars. Time and money better spent.

[@macro820]

Then he tied up that girl and took her pics and extorted her. Jerk

[@vezeris]

All of this is a repackaged version of a very old concepts building the foundation of the stoic philosophy.

[@worldshaper1723]

What a well spoken guy. He could for office, I hope he's a libral.

[@AcceleratePower]

kkk

[@Emil652]

+Shad Sylla sounds more like a social darwinist, not a "libral"

[@0ng0n]

+Shad Sylla No way he is liberal.

[@bfune4848]

+Shad Sylla haha keep dreaming, buddy, he has some sense in his head.

[@0ng0n]

The military community is known for being conservative.

[@rainerkrammconsulting227]

A human commits suicide when they don't find and believe they have any control over anything. It's as simple as that. When belief fades away, life becomes meaningless. There is nothing waiting ahead to live for.

[@everettduncan7543]

Shame he wasted it all

[@georgethornburg4882]

Patrick Swayze in Donnie Darko? This guy has no convictions, just a complete shell of a human being. He's giving the navy seals an awful name.

[@madsteeez]

Easy talking when it wasn't whom all that shit happened to..

[@alexanderlantz]

It was all good until he snuck in religion at the end.

[@Novacification]

My thoughts exactly!

[@brod2man]

Alex Lantz I'm atheist but can still look to buddhist and christian quotes. To me, God doesn't exist, but religions do, and PARTS of them are decent. So why not learn from it if it helps

[@alexanderlantz]

If. It does not help.

[@brod2man]

Alex Lantz I'm not saying they are special or magical in any way. I just mean it's like reading any self-help guide. Someone's opinion on living a good life. "If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also" That kind of stuff is just good advice. Of course you have to make sure it applies to your current situation. But it is helpful and without reading it, you might not come up with yourself at all during your entire life experience. Your response might always be to fight back against someone, because that's a much easier instinct to succumb to. But if you read this and realise there is sense to it, maybe it helps you change your actions and live a better life. Less angry and less prone to making enemies etc.

[@alexanderlantz]

brod2man Turning the cheek? That seems more of a surrender to the assailant rather than building your resilience.

[@MoreAmerican]

Yah, but en he killed himself

[@blacksquirrel4008]

He is a fake “warrior.”

[@baba7231]

3 min video and I didn’t learn anything