Are You Doing Hard Things For The Right Reasons? With Shaun Bemis

On this episode of The Mindful Journey, host Yusuf sits down with endurance athlete, veteran and business professional Shaun Bemis to unpack what it actually means to “do hard things” in real life. No hustle porn, no motivational fluff. Just pragmatic truth.

From combat zones to ultramarathons on Mount Kilimanjaro to training for his first Ironman while raising a family and building a business, Shaun breaks down how to align your toughest challenges with a clear personal why. He talks about transitioning out of the military, losing structure, putting on weight, feeling adrift and how endurance training helped him rebuild purpose, mental fitness and community.

You will hear real talk on discipline versus motivation, when “grind mode” turns into avoidance, why rest and recovery are non negotiable for sustainable performance and how to fold your kids, partner and work into your goals instead of competing with them.

If you are a founder, high performer, creator or veteran trying to connect your career, body and mental health, this conversation gives you a clean framework to stress test your why and move forward. One left foot, right foot at a time.

About The Guest:

Shaun Bemis is a former U.S. military service member, endurance athlete and business professional who uses extreme challenges to explore purpose, resilience and leadership. After leaving the military and navigating a messy job transition, he turned to long distance running and ultra events as a way to rebuild structure, confidence and mental clarity.

Shaun has completed a 75 kilometer race on Mount Kilimanjaro with over 2,000 meters of elevation gain and is currently training for his first Ironman, using the race to raise funds for Team RWB, an organization that supports veterans across physical, mental and community pillars. Through his content, races and fundraising, he encourages veterans and high performers to leverage hard things as a way to reconnect with themselves, not to escape their lives.

Key Takeaways:

• Doing hard things is not about ego. For Shaun it is about showing up as his best self for his family, clients and community so the hardest thing in the day is often the 4.30am workout, not the inbox.

• Your why gets tested when no one is watching. Solo races, long miles and the option to quit reveal whether you are doing this for yourself or to impress culture, career or external expectations.

• Misaligned whys show up as burnout or DNF. When work, life and training are out of sync, self doubt and “if I am not winning at everything, I am failing at everything” thinking can derail both races and business.

• Purpose driven endurance is selfish and generous at the same time. You must carve out training windows, then bring that stronger self back to your partner, kids, clients and veteran community.

• Recovery is a performance lever, not a luxury. Easy runs, meditation, sauna, cold plunges, yoga, time with kids and phone free evenings are part of sustainable success, not a sign of weakness.

• Forward motion is the only KPI that really matters. Left foot, right foot. Pace changes, seasons change, but consistent movement is what compounds over years.

 

How Listeners Can Connect With Shaun Bemis:

• LinkedIn : Connect with Shaun Bemis and follow his updates on endurance, leadership and veteran life after service.

• Website

• Instagram : Follow Sean B. Running for behind the scenes Ironman training, family inclusive workouts and Team RWB fundraising updates.

• Substack : Look for Shaun’s writing on endurance, mindset and transition out of the military where he shares deeper reflections and race breakdowns.

• Team RWB Fundraising. Check the links in Shaun’s social profiles to support his Ironman campaign raising funds for veteran physical, mental and community support.

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Disclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik™️. We do not intend to harm, defame or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country or profession mentioned. All third party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer.