Huberman Lab
Coleman Ruiz: Overcoming Physical & Emotional Challenges
Episode guests
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Mentors play a crucial role in building resilience and shaping individuals' trajectories.
- Transitioning from military to civilian life poses unique challenges in adjusting to new norms.
- The hero's journey framework applies to personal struggles in returning to ordinary life.
- Acknowledging and seeking help for mental health challenges is a sign of strength and growth.
- Embracing therapy facilitates healing and gradual improvement in mental well-being.
- Balancing resistance with resilience leads to a fuller existence and renewed faith in personal capabilities.
Deep dives
Initial Impressions at the Naval Academy
Upon joining the Naval Academy, the speaker was impressed by the caliber of individuals and the structured environment. The vastness of the concept and the high achievements of peers like Doug Zembeck showcased a broader perspective. The focus was on daily challenges and proving oneself within the group.
Meeting with Doug Zembeck
The speaker shared a profound encounter with Doug Zembeck, a notable wrestling teammate who exemplified physical and mental toughness. The speaker's perspective shifted, realizing that everyone at the Naval Academy may not be entirely focused on the mission, shifting to laser-focused ambition. Doug played a key mentor role, setting a high benchmark for the speaker.
Relationship at the Naval Academy
The speaker met his wife, a talented swimmer and high achiever at the Naval Academy. Although drawn to her kindness and normalcy amidst an environment of diverse personalities, her exceptional academic and athletic success did not initially play a significant role in the attraction. Their connection was based on shared experiences within the unique setting of the Naval Academy.
Transition to Elite Military Training
The speaker reflects on the transition to elite military training, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals aspiring to join top-tier institutions or achieve exceptional feats. The importance of work ethic and maintaining a focused, adaptive direction is emphasized. The significance of finding the right path, like wrestling for the speaker, is discussed and its role in steering individuals away from potentially damaging environments.
Journey to Join the SEAL Teams
The podcast delves into the speaker's decision to aim for the SEAL teams and the rigorous selection process involved. The narrative covers the intensive training regimen, including the screening process at the Naval Academy and the competitive nature of earning a spot in the SEAL teams. The speaker recounts the challenges and expectations of excelling in Basic Underwater Demolition Seal School (BUD/S) and the subsequent transformation upon selection.
Dealing with Loss and Trauma in Combat Environments
The episode explores the profound impact of loss and trauma experienced during combat deployments. The speaker recounts the emotional toll of losing teammates in various scenarios, including parachuting accidents and combat operations. The discussion extends to the complexities of notifying families of fallen soldiers and navigating the aftermath, emphasizing the psychological challenges faced by military personnel in processing grief and moving forward.
Reflections on Family and Transitioning to Civilian Life
The speaker reflects on balancing military responsibilities with family life and the challenges of maintaining a sense of normalcy amidst high-risk deployments and intense combat environments. The paradox of returning to civilian life after an immersive military career is examined, highlighting the need to transition from a heightened state of alertness to everyday routines. The episode delves into the speaker's decision to leave the military after 13 years, underlining the complexity of adjusting to a new life post-service.
Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey: Challenges of Return to Ordinary Life
The podcast delves into the concept of Joseph Campbell's hero's journey and its application to personal struggles with returning to the ordinary world after intense experiences. It highlights the stages of the hero's journey, such as the ultimate boon, refusal of the return, and magic flight, as reflections of personal growth and challenges faced. By referencing George Lucas's use of the hero's journey in storytelling, the episode connects the universal aspects of the hero's journey to individual experiences of navigating life transitions and personal transformation.
Navigating Mental Health Struggles and Seeking Help
The podcast candidly discusses the speaker's personal mental health journey, including struggles with PTSD and depression. It emphasizes the difficulty in seeking help and acknowledges the profound impact of friends and support networks in providing guidance and encouragement. The speaker shares raw emotions and vulnerabilities, reflecting on the intense internal battles faced, such as contemplating suicide, and the transformative power of opening up and accepting help during challenging times.
Learning to Surrender and Seek Help
Overcoming internal struggles and seeking help is a manifestation of great strength despite initial resistance. The journey involves acknowledging personal hurdles like PTSD and facing them head-on, which ultimately leads to growth and healing. Embracing therapy, even though daunting, reinforces the importance of addressing mental health challenges effectively. By accepting the need for assistance and engaging in therapeutic processes, healing begins and gradual improvements are made towards overall well-being.
Embracing Range and Managing Life with Acceptance
Navigating through life post-challenges involves finding balance and accepting the dynamic nature of personal growth. Recognizing the significance of a varied skill set and the ability to adapt to different life situations contributes to a more complete existence. By transitioning from a state of resistance to resilience, individuals like Coleman Ruiz experience renewed faith in their own capabilities and find contentment in managing life's complexities with a sense of control and purpose.
In this episode, my guest is Coleman Ruiz, a former Tier One U.S. Navy SEAL joint task force commander. He served in Afghanistan and Iraq and as a BUD/S training officer. He shares his journey from childhood through the Naval Academy to elite Navy SEAL special operations. He shares the physical and emotional challenges he has overcome and discusses his struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He also talks about the key role of mentors, family and friends in building resilience. Coleman gives us a raw, humble account of hitting rock bottom. He tells of the intense pain, fear, depression and suicidality in his journey of redemption. Coleman’s story is a real-life hero’s journey. He tells it with extraordinary vulnerability and humility. He explains the challenges and sudden tragedies that helped to ground, shape and renew him. His story will inspire listeners of all ages and backgrounds.
Note: This conversation includes profanity and topics that are not suitable for all audiences and ages.
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Timestamps
(00:00:00) Coleman Ruiz
(00:02:12) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up
(00:06:06) Childhood, “Wildness”
(00:13:24) Wrestling, Combat Sports & Respect
(00:22:26) Divorce, College Applications & Naval Academy
(00:25:59) Sponsor: AG1
(00:31:22) Prep School, Patriotism, Fear
(00:40:08) Growth Mindset, 24-Hour Horizon
(00:43:02) Naval Academy, Mentor, Focus
(00:52:45) Wife, Work Ethic
(01:00:51) Navy SEALs, BUD/S, Hell Week
(01:04:51) BUD/S Success Predictors; Divorce & Aloneness; Rebellion
(01:16:30) Patriotism, Navy SEALs, Green Team
(01:22:15) Advanced Training, Tier One, Free-Fall
(01:26:13) Special Operations, Deaths & Grief
(01:36:08) Mentor Death & Facing Mortality
(01:47:49) Warriors & Compassion; Trauma, Family
(01:52:37) Civilian Life Adjustment
(01:57:39) Hero With a Thousand Faces, Civilian Return & PTSD
(02:07:03) Massage, Perspective, Space-Time Bridging
(02:14:10) Psychedelics, Connection, Warrior Culture
(02:19:15) Rock Bottom: Talk Therapy, Depression, Alcohol
(02:25:50) Emotional & Physical Pain, Vulnerability, Fighter Mentality
(02:30:42) Suicide, Asking For Help & Support
(02:38:32) Therapy, PTSD Recovery, Dread; Pharmacology
(02:44:54) Healing Process: Unsatisfaction & Asking For Help
(02:54:03) Daily Routine, Movement, Nutrition
(03:02:22) Manhood, Range, Parenthood, Surrender
(03:10:08) Current Pursuits
(03:16:01) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
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