Train Your Values Until They Become a Behavior // Mental Conditioning by Jimmy Hensel

One of the most important mindsets for a values-based person is to remember that we must train those values, so they become the foundation of strength we operate from. Our values should be force multipliers in adversity. The adversity we face should remind us that we need our values because they are the foundation of strength we can attack the adversity from. This principle is not true because I say it is; it’s true because it’s the way we are wired as human beings; it’s as true as gravity. Training your values is just as important as becoming an expert at the right thing to do / the skill / the job / the task.

Mental Conditioning is vital! If you don’t train your values, why would you think your values will anchor you in adversity or keep you grounded in success?

WHY you do what you do, is just as important as being good at WHAT you do. We have to train our values because the values are supposed to be the filter that helps us make the right choice and the lens we use to create a vision for our lives daily. The values are the position of strength or foundation that allow us to do the right thing, the right way.

People forget about values when things are too easy, or everything is alright. As humans, we care about values and character in cycles. We forget that values are key to keeping our freedom from destroying us until the enemies of freedom use it against us and we are forced back to the fundamentals. Back to listening to our souls for the reminder that all the comfort we live in was handed to us by generations of people that sacrificed everything for that freedom.

Expecting yourself or anyone else to behave the right way is a foolish ideal unless we train our values, until the right thing to do is intentionally connected to the right way to do it, and that response is as close to automatic as humanly possible.

Who needs values when all the dragons to fight are already dead!? WARNING! The Dragons aren’t all dead!

Keep Coming Forward

Jimmy Hensel

Mental Conditioning by Jimmy Hensel // Properly Handling Resistance

There can be no growth without resistance; we must keep moving forward through resistance. Transformation is impossible without adversity, but you must be intentional when dealing with adversity. There is a big difference between choosing your path forward through adversity and resistance, and being swept away by the momentum of resistance you cannot influence.

Work to eliminate the obvious, reoccurring adversity you create that continually gets you off track. Triage and deal with the adversity others cause that you end up dealing with. Look for places where purpose-filled adversity can refine your life, and then intentionally work under that pressure to grow stronger and refine yourself.

The amount of success and happiness you experience in real life will, in large part, be dictated by your ability to triage and handle adversity.

Keep Coming Forward
Jimmy Hensel

Mental Conditioning by Jimmy Hensel // Now Is Not The Time To Shrink Back: ARE YOU REALLY FREE!?

If you are worried and confused, you can fix that! Living in real life outside of the algorithms is challenging, for sure. I believe, as a human being, you were created with emotions that give your life deep meaning. I think you were created with the capacity to reason and think. You were designed to make your choices based on your strongest beliefs. It's also true that you were created with the desire to live free.

What are you doing to strengthen and grow your ability to control your emotions? What are you doing to continue to develop your ability to be a critical thinker? Assuming you believe freedom is a gift from the Creator, then what are you doing to cultivate and protect your freedom? So many Americans are giving their freedom away because they are afraid, seeking safety, or care more about comfort. Even worse, many American don’t even know it’s happening they are not steering or  influencing their own life, some algorithm is.

Answering the questions we face as a society starts with each of us as individuals doing some reorganization. If you don't know who you are as an individual and are confused about what to believe, how can you possibly know what the right thing to do is for your family? How can you see where you fit in your community or what your personal responsibilities are to society? If you can't clearly define yourself as an individual, then it's just logical you can't live out the values you say are true in your life. There is a strong possibility that your personal beliefs are underdeveloped, and they will not withstand the pressures of today’s society.

The point I'm trying to make isn't arguable now; look around, the proof is all around us. If you are living your life because of emotion, caught in the flow of momentum, the adversity you face is choking you, and you're not sure what to believe. The good news is it's not too late to fix that. Live life with emotion, not because of it; learn to use momentum. What I'm suggesting isn't easy, but of course, nothing purposeful is. The only alternative is to medicate, plug into the metaverse, give your freedom away for supposed safety, and drift quietly into the medicated malaise that will eventually kill you mentally, spiritually, and maybe physically. You will find yourself in a place where you don't know what is right or wrong, who to trust, who to believe. The result will be more frustration, worry, and fear. All of us will continue to be divided because, fundamentally, our freedom has become the enemy. We forgot our responsibilities as individuals, we forgot that values were intended to be the guardrails to protect us.

Don't give any more of your power and freedom away. You can control your emotions and be in control of your thought process. The answers you're looking for start by being a better person. We must remember that character counts. We must hold ourselves accountable as individuals first. Do that work first, and then we can move out and stand in the gap for our families, for our town, for our state, and our country.

This process starts by defining yourself as an individual. Before deciding what to do next, STOP and do the work to clearly establish your personal identity. Get your values organized and written down in language. If you cannot clearly speak and write about your values, then you cannot live them, and they will not withstand the pressure test of the adversity or opportunity we all face in 2023. S&H

Keep Coming Forward,

Jim Hensel

Mental Conditioning by Jimmy Hensel // STAY ON MISSION: What You Need to Know

We all feel, first as humans. We have to process emotion first. Next, all of us are trying to make our biggest choices and decisions based on our strongest beliefs. Physiologically and psychologically, that's what's happening. So somehow, someway, we have to be able to deal with emotion, and we have to put language to what we believe. In order to live out your strongest beliefs or values, that's what's happening for all of us in the background. We all have to deal with the past to the degree that we need to. Whether it's anxiety, unforgiveness, or regret, we have to figure out what that means to you, so it's not a crack or a weakness.

Then, in order to be present and live your life in the present right where your feet are, you have to have some mindset tools. You have to be able to dial up your emotions in the places where people need to know you feel, and you need to be able to dial them back in spaces where all that matters is the right thing to do, like in competition for an athlete where all that matters is the right thing to do.

Then, in order to move forward with confidence without anxiety, you have to know a little bit about your future. Obviously, you can't completely know the future, but you have to be able to cast a vision to keep yourself on track. Some sort of mission and vision for your life so that the values you're using today, and what you believe now, keeps you in line and directed in a straight line in your future.

Keep Coming Forward 

Jim Hensel

Mental Conditioning by Jimmy Hensel // What Carl Taught Me: Rest In Peace

There is always perspective at the end of anything, wisdom that you can't see until it's finished. Slow down, look for it, and grow wiser. Carl taught me that. Carl passed away on June 1st, 2023, and I want to honor him today and share with you some of the wisdom he gave me.

For two years, I went to Poets Coffee shop in Cookeville, Tennessee, every morning at 7 AM as I was writing the Mayhem Mindset course. Every morning, there were always three other men at the coffee shop, and we all became friends. My morning started with 5 to 10 minutes of conversation with these gentlemen. Three of us had our first names in common. We called ourselves "The 3 Jim's and Carl."

At first glance, Carl appeared to be reserved and frail. I remember thinking I needed to tone it down for him, but that changed immediately after our first conversation. He was a good listener, but when he spoke, it was with a gracious kind of authority that made it easy to receive. He talked with a confidence that comes from real-life experience. Carl told me he was active in the AA community in Cookeville and was passionate about being there for anyone who wanted help overcoming substance abuse.

Carl always started our conversations by asking me how Kristen (my wife) was doing, and he always wanted to know if I was taking care of her. In the most gracious way, he challenged me to remember to sacrifice and give to her. He said not only was it the right thing to do, but that it would be worth it in the end. He reminded me that taking care of that relationship was like putting money in the bank; it was like saving for the future. He shared with me some of the loneliness he felt as an older man who was in poor health and how he had lived for the moment for so many years without realizing that there would be real consequences and burdens he wouldn't be able to escape at the end.

Carl said that there was always something to learn, something worth thinking about at the end of everything. He cautioned me not to ever think I had life figured out. He told me to be mature enough to slow down and make sure to find the wisdom and perspective at the end of everything. He knew I liked to work out; he said there was wisdom at the end of every workout. He said there was wisdom to be found at the end of every single day, there was wisdom or perspective at the end of everything. Carl told me it was easy to be emotional and start something, but it takes courage and maturity to finish well and then grow stronger from the truth that you can find at the end.

I think that all the emotion and momentum generated by our modern society and the algorithms that guide most people keep us in a state of perpetual motion and rob us of the wisdom that comes from thinking deeply at the end of what we are doing, and it steals from us the opportunity to slow down, recover, and grow stronger. We weren't designed as humans to always be in motion. To live life well means we all need answers for our lives physically, mentally, and spiritually. Staying healthy and growing requires motivation at the start, a strong values-based resolution through the middle, and the courage to be intentional and learn and apply the truth you find at the end of everything you do.

I am a better man because of the wisdom Carl spoke into my life. Thank you, Carl. Rest in peace.

Keep Coming Forward,

Jim Hensel

Mental Conditioning by Jimmy Hensel // Coming Home The Right Way

Coming home from the CrossFit Semi-finals was another opportunity to transition from the extreme pressure and intensity of that event to being the man I believe I'm supposed to be in "real life" – the man I believe I'm supposed to be at home with my family.

When I do it correctly, coming home humbles me and reminds me of my priorities. Many times, I allow myself to place too much importance and meaning on competition or business, failing to make the proper adjustment and dial back my intensity or emotions that were necessary to be world-class at my job under extreme pressure. Coming home is always good for me; I realize that my wife, my children, and my granddaughter all love and need me regardless of my performance. They need the thoughtful, strong, consistent version of who I am. They need me to be the thermostat that regulates and creates an environment for them to grow and be the person they were created to be. 

I'm reminded that purpose for their lives is not the same as mine. I'm reminded that my first thoughts need to be full of gratitude. Many times, I feel convicted because I spend too much time thinking about myself, my mission in life, what I want, what I need, and even what I think I deserve. Being a person who can handle high pressure consistently over time means I have to be capable of transitioning well from my performance expectations to the man I am supposed to be in "real life," and that always requires sacrificing for the people that I love. I mean, literally sacrificing my gifts, my talents, my purpose, my personal mission for their sake. Anything that steals my ability to be fully present with them, to hear their hearts, to meet their needs, and to help them grow right where they are is missing the mark based on my stated values. Coming home reminds me that being great under extreme pressure and transitioning back to being the man I want to be in "real life" must be intentional. I must develop a system and routine to facilitate that, and I must have clear values to use as the filter for my emotions and intensity in order to transition quickly and do it well.

I am reminded that if I want to succeed under pressure, be world-class, and maximize my mission in life over a career and a lifetime, success, respect, notoriety, and financial security start with my ability to live my values with my wife and my family because they are the foundation, the position of strength, I must always return to, to ground me. They are the people I must give to and sacrifice for to balance out the intensity, the emotion, and the innate selfishness that it requires to be world-class at anything. One of the keys in handling extreme pressure over time, whether it's competition or a high-stress job, is coming home and being at home and doing that well. Positive values anchor you through adversity and ground you in success.

Keep Coming Forward,

Jim Hensel

Mental Conditioning By Jimmy Hensel // Turning Chaos Into Order

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson said, “fundamentally life is about turning chaos into order.” I thought with every workout you pit the chaos in your mind against your body and what it can do. When you finish the workout it brings an understanding of accomplishment, experience and discipline or order to your mind.  Same with our diet and our health. We are always working to answer the chaotic questions of what we should be eating and doing to make our body perform the best. We battle chaotic thoughts that we “aren’t good enough” in some way. Being willing to go face to face with those chaotic lies work past them and move toward our truth, it brings order to our mind and heart.

Living by a schedule removes chaos and brings the order we need to accomplish our goals. Balancing your bank account no matter how much is in it puts the leash on the chaos worry and fear that’s been leading you around. At least you know where you stand and that's a stronger position than the chaotic shaky ground of denial.

Living with purpose and feeling the way we want to is accomplished in part by bringing more order to our lives. Obviously is easier said than done but it’s still true. The momentum that our lives generate and the environment we choose for our lives will have a lot to say about how hard it will be to bring order to the chaos and how much of our potential we will eventually realize. Move!

Where and what can you do today to bring more order to your life? What can you do for someone else to bring more order in their life?

Keep Coming Forward

Jimmy Hensel

Mental Conditioning by Jimmy Hensel // A Memorial Day Story with John Lovell

I am filled with gratitude and humbled by the sacrifices made by the men and women who have fought and died for our Freedom. I consider the core value of Freedom a "Strength Value" in my life, that means it's non-negotiable, its a mountain I am willing to die on. It's one of the Core Values I use as a filter for every choice and decision I make in my life.  As Americans, we must continue to protect the Freedom we have been given and be reminded to make the sacrifices that have been made for us count in our lives as individuals, for our family's, in our American Culture, and around the world. We are certainly the freest people in the history of humankind, let it be said that our generation continued to uphold the Value of Freedom and let us honor those in our Armed Forces that died to make sure that our Freedom is maintained. 

In honor of Memorial Day, I wanted the Mindset thoughts to come from a war veteran. John Lovell is a man I respect, he is a former member of Special Operations, having served in 2nd Ranger Battalion with numerous combat tours to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Visit https://warriorpoetsociety.us for info about John Lovell

Keep Coming Forward!

Jim Hensel

Mental Conditioning by Jimmy Hensel // Shame Lives in the "Should"

So many people experience shame that causes them to lie to themselves and to lie to others. That shame causes them to hide and run from what they say they believe is the truth. Consequently, shame causes them to almost involuntarily comprise their values, all while those values are the key to freedom from the shame. As a result, they live in a constant state of weakness and rejection with no clear way to recover. It’s just true that all of us have experienced this in some manner; it’s part of being human.

I believe that shame lives in Should. For example, I should work harder. I should eat healthier. I should treat my family better. I should get to the gym. I should quit this dead-end job. I should not be afraid. I should not worry so much. I should stop lying. I should quit sinning. What’s starts as a healthy reminder from our gut, consciousness, or our heart reminding us to live out our values, turns to shame as we avoid the truth.

It’s not enough to identify our truth. It’s not enough to talk about our truth. It’s not enough to ask for accountability. Conquering shame is accomplishing by Doing and by creating Done in your life.
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What’s the flip-side? Continue to live a less than purposeful life. Continue to compromise your values while allowing your emotions and the momentum of life to push you around, all while the shame from never really committing to living out your values keeps you from becoming 100% of the person you were designed to BE.

The problem is not the shame; that’s the emotional result of an underlying problem. The initial barrier to moving forward is admitting to the problem that causes shame, but that’s not enough! Most importantly, you must attack the problem by creating a plan to destroy it, then execute that plan inside of your daily routine based on what you believe, not just what you feel. How do you create a plan? Here is the formula: Identity + Values + Routine = Vision or Plan
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At first, you will not feel good about this! You must create the energy (energy = the fuel to do something based on right action according to your values in spite of how you feel) necessary to move forward. The freedom you seek will begin to grow as your confidence grows by Doing. When you screw it up, and you will, here is how to respond:
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Mindset Tool:

Admit it: acknowledge your role and responsibility

Fix it: learn from it - communicate, apologize, if necessary

Flush it: re-aim at your values and keep moving forward!
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Commit to turning one of the shame causing Should’s in your life to a Doing and then a Done. Respond based on your values, take action, start working on it, generate movement forward, and watch the shame begin to melt away.

Come work with us if you are looking for a process to develop a vision and a plan.

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Keep Coming Forward!
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Jim Hensel

Mental Conditioning by Jimmy Hensel // Reacting and Responding are Two Different Things

REACTIONS are caused by emotion and forced on you by momentum and pressure.

RESPONDING correctly means you know how to think or consider based on your strongest beliefs or your core values. Right action or the proper RESPONSE must be trained and practiced.

Developing a values-based RESPONSE means you will have done the work to put what you believe in language so that language can be used to create a Mindset tool to train your emotions and create your values based RESPONSE.

In the Mayhem Mindset Process, “The System” is a good Mindset tool to remind yourself what it means to be human and how you can continue to optimize your body’s design by establishing your personal identity then defining and learning to use your values to control your emotions then use momentum in a trained RESPONSE instead of an uncontrolled REACTION.

Learn about “The System” and how to develop a values based RESPONSE at mayhemmindset.com

Keep Coming Forward!

Jim Hensel