About RARE SENSE
My name is Chris Irwin. I'm a Navy SEAL veteran, Naval Academy and University of Cambridge graduate, and the host of On the X, the official podcast of the Navy SEAL Foundation.
I spent 20 years in service and another decade after that fighting a battle against my mental health and chronic illness. What pulled me out was learning to be mentally fit, not just mentally tough. RARE SENSE exists to share this approach and bridge that gap. The core idea is that most people who struggle aren't sick. They're mentally out of shape. It’s the difference between treatment and training.
My upcoming book, Facing the Mind-Killers, makes the full case and gives you the tools to start. This Substack has been on pause while the book was being written. It’ll come back to life in the coming months.
All content here falls into three categories:
Training - Practical techniques for building mental fitness, including meditation, breathwork, journaling, and more. Short sessions with real results.
Articles - Long-form pieces exploring the theory behind these exercises and other mental fitness topics. Most take five to ten minutes to read.
Books - Recommendations for works that go even deeper. I’ve personally read and vetted all of these.
Subscribers can also interact with me and each other through Substack's Notes and Chat features. Notes is a distraction-free social feed where I share smaller odds and ends between longer posts. Chat is a more direct space for questions, prompts, and conversation. Both are best experienced through the Substack app.
You can also connect with me on Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. If you’d like to work with me personally, I offer keynote speaking, coaching, and group workshops. Learn more on my personal site.
Mental fitness saved my life. It can help you too.
DISCLAIMER: RARE SENSE® content is not medical advice. Nor does it represent the official position or opinions of any other organization or person. If you require diagnosis or treatment for a mental or physical issue or illness, please seek it from a licensed professional.
