The Modern Man

Resilience –  

the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. 

“The remarkable resilience of so many institutions” 

Resilience in the face of difficult situations, being steadfast and being stoic. It’s a skill that can be learned, refined and adopted into creating a strong sense of self-worth, empowerment and a strong character. Much of it is about mindset, being able to see situations for what they are, what they represent and the actual impact on you, rather than any perceived impact.  

Seneca once said, “we suffer more in imagination than in reality.” and I believe this to be almost entirely true. I have had many setbacks in my life, failed relationships, career and goal failures, betrayals by those I deemed closest to me. And many times, I reacted poorly, letting the situations consume my mind, my emotions, and ultimately, my time. When I was a teenager, I read Robert Greene’s 48 laws of power, which intrigued, fascinated and inspired me. From there I read Gustav le bon’s the crowd, propaganda by Edward Bernays, meditations by Marcus Aurelias, letters from a stoic by Seneca, and countless other books on similar subjects.  

Although these books are not the same, and in the same tone or genre, they all helped shape my mind. I genuinely believe reading, and writing, getting your thoughts down onto paper, a blog like this one, or even just the notes app on your phone can pay dividends in helping refine your mindset.  

One of the biggest struggles I faced was being injured and subsequently discharged from CTCRM (commando training center Royal marines), my dream was dashed before it even started. I wanted to be a marine almost more than anything else, I still do. But it wasn’t going to happen. I fell into a bit of negative thoughts, depression and just overall s**t. This lasted for a few months, before i started to realize that the strength of mind I had been building by reading, by training for the marines itself, was the key to moving past it. I trained a lot to get fit for CTCRM, 4 hour days, cardio, weights, circuits, early mornings, late nights, I was a chef during most of my training, I would get to work at 07:30 work till 15:00 then go for a 5 mile run then hit several rounds of bodyweight or kettlebell work before hitting the shower and starting another shift at 16:50 till close. All whilst juggling a young family. It was tough but it worked, and it helped build a strong mindset. A no quit attitude and a resolve to always get the work done. I hated running, and still do. But doing something you hate but know is good for you is a wonderful experience, I use to call it “Bitch work” just because the work itself sucks, it’s a bitch, but its work that needs to be done. So just get it done. This carried over to being a Nod (a term for royal marine recruits, because they always “nod” off, falling asleep, often, inadvertently). early mornings, tough as nails Pt sessions, ironing beds, clothes, cleaning rooms, toilets, endless tasks that you didn’t want to do. They just had to be done.  

The point is resilience, resolve, strength of will. It is built through repetition, through action. Go for that run, make your bed, cook dinner rather than order take out. It’s the little things that accumulate and build to become something bigger. And having this skill will help you when you face setbacks, personal, professional. Whatever they may be.  

Ultimately, resilience is not about avoiding failure; it’s about meeting it head-on, learning from it, and coming back stronger. It’s about knowing that the road to success is often paved with setbacks, but each step forward, no matter how small, is a victory. 

So, what’s your next step toward building resilience? Start with one small action. Do the “bitch work” that you know needs to be done. The more you practice resilience in the little things, the more prepared you’ll be to handle the big challenges that come your way. Share your journey with us, and let’s build a community of Modern Men who refuse to give up. #TheModernMan #Resilience #StrengthOfWill 

With this guide, you’re on your way to building resilience and becoming a stronger version of yourself. Keep pushing forward, and remember, it’s the small victories that lead to big success. 

Faithfully yours.

Jack