SEALFIT was initially developed by retired Navy SEAL Commander Mark Divine to train special ops candidates to get into the Navy SEALS; it now has a broader audience but is still aimed at preparing individuals for operating under high levels of adversity and threat.

This is a neat fit with the aim of the FORCOMD resilience program which views resilience as '…the capacity of individuals, teams and organisations to adapt, recover and thrive in situations of risk, challenge, danger, complexity and adversity'. The philosophy of both SEALFIT and FORCOMD’s focus on resilience is to develop the whole person: physically, psychologically, cognitively, behaviourally and spiritually.

This Mark Divine YouTube clip from SEALFIT TV explores Mental Toughness and Emotion Regulation.

Mental Toughness is a personal attribute that means you have the psychological capacity to perform at a high level on a regular basis under various degrees of situational stress. The key point that Mark highlights is that cognition (thinking) and emotion are not opposing ideas, they are connected and interdependent. In real terms this means that management of your emotions impacts on your decision-making processes, and ultimately your ability to perform your job under challenging conditions.

Before you watch the clip, ask yourself what strategies (if any) you use to regulate your emotions. Where can you improve and how can you practice them? Refer to the Open Arms website for assistance in developing your skills in this area.

Do you have a strategy for regulating your emotions that may work for others? Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.