Vital Mental Medicine almanac - Shackleton London

In 2018, Nathan was asked to write a foreword for Shackleton London’s Vital Mental Medicine almanac of inspiring words. Here is what Nathan had to say:

It is an honour to be writing this append to the Vital Mental Medicine collection produced by the Shackleton Company. For several years, I have dedicated my time and effort to understanding human performance and health in extreme environments. During this period, I have worked with a range of extreme populations, including expeditioners, military, humanitarian medics and astronauts. What I have learnt from these people is that human beings have an incredible capacity for endeavour, coping with stress and emerging stronger for it.

The excellent response by the Shackleton community to the Vital Mental Medicine project has been nothing short of instructive and echoes a spirit of exploration that remains alive and well. The collection of quotes, stories and insights in the journal should be a source of inspiration and energy for your next great adventure, whether summiting peaks, crossing deserts or rowing oceans. What never fails to amaze me is the power that thoughts and words can have on a person’s psyche. I think deep-down we all realise that the mental make-up of an individual is every bit as important as physical fortitude in determining success and survival when the going gets tough. In extreme environments, where we have limited control, the process of self-talk and the words we choose to say to ourselves have an almost supernatural power to galvanise resolve and effort, not just to inspire the start of great endeavours but to sustain it in the very darkest of times.

Those words that we use reflect a coping style aligned to our values and the philosophies that we hold dear. Over the years, our studies with mountaineers, polar expeditioners, Antarctic scientists, astronauts, Mars simulation participants and Special Forces have highlighted the importance of being courageous and creative, contributing to something bigger than oneself and valuing the team. These findings align closely to Sir Ernest Shackleton’s own drivers and leadership style, echoing the importance of being unselfish, brave and cheerful in the face of adversity.

Shackleton’s gifts as writer, poet and orator made him completely aware of the crucial power of words to inspire his crew; his use of these talents in times of crisis may well have saved their lives. The words you choose are equally as powerful.

You can download and read the Shackleton London almanac here.