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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Art of Resilience summary
Ross Edgley
Strategies for an Unbreakable Mind and Body
16 mins
Brief summary
The Art of Resilience by Ross Edgley is a book that explores the concept of mental and physical resilience. Edgley shares his personal experiences and offers practical advice on how to overcome challenges and build resilience in all areas of life.
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The Art of Resilience
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Redefining boundaries: A journey into the depths of resilience and valor
When Ross Edgley embarked on his monumental journey of swimming around Great Britain, he was fueled by a desire to rediscover human resilience and valor. This venture was a tribute to Captain Matthew Webb, the first to swim the English Channel in 1875, embodying Victorian grit and defiance. Edgley aimed to show that, like our ancestors, we are capable of overcoming formidable challenges.
Edgley’s journey, spanning 1,780 miles, was not just against the unpredictable wrath of the sea – it was also against skepticism about his ability to conquer established sports science norms. His physique, atypical for a long-distance swimmer, was perceived as a disadvantage. But Edgley saw his robust build as a wellspring of resilience, essential for such a daunting undertaking. He sought to defy the skepticism of many, including those who doubted he would pass the 100-mile mark.
Edgley started the swim powerfully, covering 21 miles in under 9 hours. He knew, however, that his journey would require repeating this effort approximately 100 times. The relentless sea had begun to imprint its toll on his mind and body, whispering fatigue and testing his endurance with every wave. Beating this fatigue would also be a mental battle, and Edgley recognized that he needed to train his mind to push beyond its self-imposed limits.
Following Professor Tim Noakes’s Central Governor theory, which posits the brain limits the body to maintain homeostasis, Edgley trained his mind to extend these limits – and allowed his body to push past his brain's protective barriers. He adopted a philosophy he called “Stoic Sports Science,” which draws on the US Navy Seals’ 40 percent rule to overcome fatigue. At the brink of exhaustion, the rule says, an untouched reserve of about 40 percent still remains.
In the face of impossibility and the rage of the seas, Edgley swam with the spirit of ancient warriors and the wisdom of modern science. But what did he learn from this experience? That’s what we’ll explore next.
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What is The Art of Resilience about?
The Art of Resilience (2020) is the story of Ross Edgley’s extraordinary swim around Great Britain, in which he pushed the limits of human endurance and resilience. Through anecdotes, scientific research, and philosophical reflections, it explores the depths of mental and physical strength and offers advice on how to be truly unbreakable.
Who should read The Art of Resilience?
- Endurance athletes seeking to push their mental and physical limits
- Fitness enthusiasts eager to understand the synergy between mind and body
- Adventure lovers interested in the exploration of human potential
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