Embrace Pain and Make it Your Most Intimate Life Partner: Special Operations Commander Turned Zen Teacher Todd Opalski on Self Discipline, Preparation in Times of Uncertainty, Vegan Life, Healthy Relationships and Much More!

Those of you who have followed my podcast for awhile know nothing excites me more than talking to people who've lived a very diverse life. I find there some of the most intriguing and best teachers. My guest today, Todd Opalski is a retired Marine scout, sniper force recon operator, Delta operator, special operations commander and entrepreneur.

After 26 years in the military, he lived the startup experience in Silicon Valley. Before creating Camp Zen Commando, a Costa Rican retreat to help people of all stripes optimize their lives and prepare for the uncertainties of tomorrow, Todd was part of elite special operations organizations, completed the most arduous and demanding training the military has to offer, and he served on secretive military assignments in hostile environments worldwide.

Throughout his journey, Todd has witnessed firsthand all types of suffering in the world, including starvation, genocide, isolation, deprivation, and worst of all human loss. Now his life purpose is to assist others in living more meaningful and peaceful lives and mind, body adventure camp, Camps Zen Commando in Costa Rica.

In my conversation with Todd Opalski, you'll learn:

-02:45 How Todd got into his 26 year military career

-05:35 Special Operations Forces career and the transition to using Special Operations

-08:00 How witnessing deprivation in war torn parts of the globe affected Todd‘s world view

-12:30 Detaching from emotional attachments in order to be able to keep moving forward

-14:20 Todd’s transition from decorated military career to becoming a Zen teacher and what drew him to Costa Rica

-19:10 Todd‘s advice to people who want to make a radical change in their lives and how to deal with uncertainty

-23:10 From total badass projecting intimidation to becoming a super chill Zen teacher

-27:58 The Camp Zen Commando philosophy and mission

-29:34 The value of relationships and the three types of relationships according to Marcus Aurelius‘ Meditations

-33:57 Embrace pain and make it your most intimate life partner: how to do this

-37:54 Addiction and addictive personality and how to refocus that trait on healthy habits

-40:52 Substance free and vegan, why Camp Zen Commando is all about clean living

-42:20 What prompted Todd to go vegan

-47:56 Todd's eating plan and how he eats

-49:20 The best home made pickled sauerkraut recipe

-50:58 The power and efficiency of food prep

-55:45 The number one excuse for not making a positive change in your life and how to change it

-58:52 Todd‘s practices

-01:07:17 Todd‘s transformative experience hiking the Appalachian Trail and how it taught him Peace