How to Make Yourself Unbreakable | DJ Shipley

About this video

• Video Title: How to Make Yourself Unbreakable | DJ Shipley
• Channel: Andrew Huberman
• Speakers: Andrew Huberman, DJ Shipley
• Duration: 03:42:36

Overview

This video features retired Navy SEAL DJ Shipley discussing his strategies for building mental and physical resilience, drawing from his experiences in special operations and his subsequent work in civilian life. He emphasizes the importance of routine, embracing discomfort, controlling controllable factors, and leveraging physical fitness and mindset tools to overcome challenges and improve overall well-being. The conversation also touches upon his personal journey through trauma, addiction, and recovery, including his experiences with psychedelic-assisted therapies.

Key takeaways

• Structured Routine: DJ Shipley advocates for a highly structured morning routine, starting with consistent wake-up times, to create a foundation of control and minimize stressors throughout the day.
• "Control the Controllable": A core principle is to focus energy on aspects within one's control, such as preparation and execution of daily tasks, while not dwelling on uncontrollable external factors.
• Physicality and Mental Health: Shipley highlights the strong link between physical health and mental well-being, using exercise and body awareness as tools to manage stress and improve mental clarity.
• Compartmentalization: Effective separation of different life roles (work, family) is crucial, achieved through deliberate mental shifts and routines, such as the commute home acting as a transition period.
• Embracing Discomfort: Drawing from his SEAL training, Shipley suggests that intentionally seeking out and enduring discomfort is key to building mental resilience and character.
• Micro-wins and Consistency: The practice of stacking small, consistent wins throughout the day is presented as a strategy for building confidence and overcoming negative mental states.
• Trauma and Recovery: Shipley shares his personal struggles with PTSD and addiction following his military service, discussing his journey toward recovery through various therapies, including psychedelics like Ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT.
• Fitness as a Lifeline: Maintaining physical fitness is portrayed not just as a health choice but as a crucial tool for mental resilience, injury prevention, and overall life longevity, especially for those in high-stress professions.
• Body Awareness: Developing a deep understanding of one's physical body helps in distinguishing between mere soreness and actual injury, enabling proactive management of physical health.
• The GBRS Program: Shipley discusses his fitness program, GBRS, which focuses on functional, all-around fitness with measurable standards designed to be adaptable and maintainable for individuals of all ages and backgrounds.