Forging Resilience Through the Constant Push
This week on The Gold Mine, Shaun and Chance welcomed Michael Laughlin, a 25-year veteran firefighter and the first full-time above-knee amputee firefighter in Canada. Michael’s incredible journey served as the catalyst for a deep exploration of the seemingly simple phrase: “Keep Pushing.”
Our conversation quickly revealed that this concept extends far beyond mere physical endurance. It’s a mindset, a commitment to action, and a way of navigating life’s complexities – from overcoming catastrophic injury to managing daily interactions and inner dialogues. We unpacked the layers behind the push, examining the difference between surviving and actively striving for growth in every arena.
Key Takeaways: Expanding the Definition of ‘Pushing’
- Action Over Platitudes: “Keep Pushing” requires more than saying it. It demands defining the challenge, identifying the path forward, and taking deliberate action – echoing Michael’s “Make It a Great Day” philosophy.
- Strength Enables Openness: True resilience, often forged through immense hardship, paradoxically allows for deeper connection and openness.
- Intentional Communication: Moving beyond superficial niceties (“How you doing?”) requires conscious effort and carries both risk and reward. Pushing means testing relational boundaries to foster authentic connection, while understanding the importance of context and delivery.
- Holistic Application: The push isn’t compartmentalized to just the job. It applies to parenting, managing distraction in a digital age, confronting boredom, and the continuous refinement of personal habits and self-awareness.
- The Power of Small Wins: Breaking down monumental tasks into smaller, achievable steps builds momentum and reinforces the drive to overcome, as Michael highlighted from his competitive background.
- Bias for Forward Motion: Underlying the discussion was a champion mindset – a commitment to continuous improvement, learning from feedback, and actively engaging with the world to “win” in a constructive sense.
Defining Your Push: Moving from Intention to Execution
It’s easy to acknowledge difficulty. It’s much harder to actively engage with it. The conversation underscored the gap between simply saying “Keep Pushing” and actually doing it. Michael’s practical adaptation of his firefighter gear is a physical manifestation of this, but the principle applies mentally and emotionally.
When faced with a setback, a plateau, or just the daily grind, the first step is defining what needs to change. What does “better” look like? What’s the immediate, actionable step – however small – you can take? Resisting the comfort of vague intentions and committing to tangible action is where the real push begins.
Reflection Question: Where in your life are you acknowledging a need to “push” without defining the specific actions required? What’s one concrete micro-step you can commit to this week?
Where True Strength Meets Openness
Michael’s openness, and his story of connecting deeply with fellow “alpha” Greg Lapin shortly after meeting, powerfully illustrated a key theme: genuine strength isn’t brittle. The individuals who have truly pushed through adversity often develop a capacity for openness that less tested individuals may lack.
This counters the outdated trope of the stoic, unfeeling leader or “alpha male.” The ability to be open, to listen, to connect on an emotional level – these aren’t signs of weakness, but indicators of deep-seated confidence and resilience. It’s the “Teddy Bear” effect: strong and capable on the outside, but possessing the inner security to be soft, empathetic, and real.
Application Challenge: Consider your interactions within your teams, family, or community. Are there opportunities to lead with openness, demonstrating that strength and openness can coexist? How might this change the dynamic?
Pushing Holistically: Beyond the Obvious Challenges
The “Keep Pushing” mentality isn’t reserved for crises. It’s cultivated in the everyday:
- Pushing Past Distraction: Intentionally creating space for silence and thought amidst constant digital noise.
- Pushing Through Discomfort: Engaging in difficult conversations or holding oneself accountable even when it’s uncomfortable.
- Pushing in Relationships: Applying patience, seeking understanding, and actively working to be a better partner, parent, or friend.
This continuous, low-level push in all areas builds the muscle needed for when significant challenges inevitably arise. It’s about cultivating a life oriented towards growth, not just enduring hardship.
Final Thought: “Keep Pushing” is fundamentally about embracing your own agency. It’s rejecting passivity and choosing deliberate action, whether facing monumental obstacles or the subtle demands of daily life. It’s a commitment to continuous learning, adapting, and striving not just to endure, but to actively shape a better reality for ourselves and those around us.
Ready to explore the full depth of the conversation?
Listen to the full discussion with Michael Laughlin here: Keep Pushing
Keep digging,
Shaun & Chance
The Gold Mine Podcast
