It was during some unit survival training in the wilderness of Camp Mackall North Carolina, that I was introduced to the term, “The Mental Edge”.
In a hostile survival situation, it is important to maintain the ability to stay mentally and physically sharp; but without the mental sharpness one is unable to stay physically alive.
The mental edge is something that some are simply born with.
The mental edge is a literal edge or advantage in any situation.
The mental edge is far more that just the will to survive.
The mental edge is security, the fact that even though you are faced with adversity, you have an advantage.
In a survival situation the mental edge may be the fact that you know you are trained and have sufficient materials and ability to sustain.
Maybe your mental edge is the ability to endure cold better than those around you.
Simply put no one thing can be classified as the mental edge.
The mental edge is fluid and is part killer instinct, part survival instinct, part optimism, common sense, confidence and mind over matter.
One Master, from Hawaii Master Wayneright caught my attention the most.
Master Wayneright is proof that these abilities and skills can be awakened; but he claims it is through pain that they are activated.
It is also through the consequence of pain or suffering that we learn the “Awareness” of our self and situation and to gain the mental edge.
I am not advocating that people place themselves in danger in order to enhance primitive survival skills or mental abilities, but I do recommend regularly challenging one’s self by placing your self in alien situations that have some consequence.
Embarrassment, discomfort and hunger are all consequences that can help aid one in the training of developing the mental edge.
It was here that I learned to always be aware of my edge to help me conquer any obstacle in my way.
In addressing what the mental edge is I can only say this the mind is the most important tool or weapon you have, when it comes down to using this tool or weapon we all either know that we have the edge or we don’t.
The mental edge can be developed once you realize that you have it.
The most important thing I do know to help keep the mental edge is me, constantly keeping myself in check and telling myself I have the mental edge, visualizing what that advantage is and making it materialize.
Now its time for you to become the weapon, tool or solution, use your “Mental edge” and make it happen.
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