How Purpose Helped Captain Plumb Survive as a POW (ep. 374)

Former Navy fighter pilot Captain Charlie Plumb is a testament to the strength of the human spirit. Scheduled to be his 75th and final mission in Vietnam, Charlie's F-4 Phantom Jet was shot down + captured. He'd spend the next 2,103 days isolated + tortured in North Vietnamese Prisoner of War camps. Four years ago I had the honor of having Charlie on the show + during our conversation, he deeply moved me when he attributed his survival to his faith and ability to forgive. Today, I’m sharing a fresh cut of this episode with you because the lessons within it have never been more relevant: Purpose provides the strength to endure the unthinkable  Appreciating the value of challenge No matter how your 2021 has looked so far, Charlie’s story will remind you that the best is yet to come. SHOW NOTES: “Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how'.” ― Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning The POWs held captive the longest came back with a lower rate of PTSD because great leadership unified us under a mission statement: Return with honor. Charlie mentions past guest Michaela Haas and how we can actually cultivate resilience through post traumatic grown. Learn more on Live Inspired Podcast ep. 4 here. Against therapists advice, Charlie was never bitter about his first wife filing for divorce without his knowledge and instead chose to appreciate how it fueled his hope to survive. Captain Charlie Plumb's advice for those who feel imprisoned: Look at the value of challenge. Adversity is a horrible thing to waste. Take a risk + get outside your comfort zone. Build a community of support. My conversation with Captain Charlie Plumb first aired in May 2017. Listen to that here.