Hi, great question!
I have been thinking along the same lines. David Goggins is an articulate man; however, he has struggled academically and on standardized tests. He talks about his problems with reading and stuttering earlier in life. These are a dead giveaway he is dyslexic. Both correlate together. When Goggins refers to himself as having a learning disability — he is likely referring to dyslexia. Scientific evidence from a study in 2019 supports my position:
"Mahmoud Elsherif, a PhD psychology student from the University of Birmingham. Mahmoud was looking for people to take part in his study into the reading processes of people with dyslexia and people who stammer.
'We tested 84 people without a diagnosis of dyslexia and stammering, 50 people with dyslexia and 30 people who stammer. We measured behaviour that assessed things such as number recall and repeating non-words.'
'We found that both groups did not differ in any phonological measure. In addition, 34% of people with dyslexia had stammered during childhood and 50% people who stammer fit the dyslexia profile. In short, dyslexia and stammering are more similar than once presumed and both conditions share a phonological difficulty."
Source: https://tinyurl.com/y3nf37fm
Goggins is clever and dyslexic — this commonly crops up as a high functioning dyslexic. Goggins knits together insights fast when talking to other persons it shows he is intelligent and creative, aspects that also lean towards dyslexia. People with dyslexia synthesize knowledge in very creative and non-neurotypical ways than others. Leonardo Da Vinci, for instance. Notice how his journals were full of drawings, and how the greatest marvel he left us the way a painting, classic dyslexia, boosted visual intelligence.
Article on high functioning dyslexics or 'Stealth Dyslexia': https://tinyurl.com/yajh49v7
Article on Da Vinci and dyslexia: https://tinyurl.com/y5jsc6a8
Dyslexia and creativity: https://tinyurl.com/y2volllw
People with learning disabilities struggle on standardized tests. Often, they are allowed more time — although, I'm not sure Goggin's would allow himself to receive extra time, laughs.
https://tinyurl.com/y4l48vxk - Read through this article on how dyslexics need extra prep and planning to pass standardized tests, just like Goggin's needed.
https://tinyurl.com/y4g3naq6 - Visual picture of dyslexic brain processing
https://tinyurl.com/y2rk8ufz - Different brain wiring
Some helpful diagrams show the weaknesses and strengths associated with Goggin's intelligence if he is dyslexic. Be aware there are common stereotypes around dyslexia that it is a reading disorder, but it's not. Their brains are wired differently (including my own), this makes them see the world differently. Dyslexics excel in none academic areas.
Richard Branson is dyslexia and an impressive businessman, but he has pronounced dyslexia. He too would struggle to pass standardized tests; however, this does not mean he lacks in intelligence.
Branson interview on how dyslexia helped him become successful: https://tinyurl.com/y4myawul
An interesting new perspective has arisen about intelligence. Different ethnicities have evolved in different environments, and over time, this has meant intelligence has adapted and been passed down through generations with broad variation between peoples.
Relevant paper on Adaptive theory of intelligence. It's enough to read the abstract to see where I am coming from:
It's clear to everyone Goggin's is part African. I believe the latest intelligence research is pointing towards the fact that African intelligence is predominately visual, which makes sense. Lacking in this department would mean an African warrior (Goggin's forebearers) struggling to throw spears and avoid getting gobbled up by lions. Thus, it's possible, Goggins, inherited genes that weighted his intelligence to the visual side of his overall brain functioning. And the more pronounced the weighting towards the visual aspects in Goggin's brain. The deeper the changes in the brain structure the deeper the prioritization of skills and functions, such as; verbal intelligence, spatial intelligence, visual memory — over linguistic intelligence and memory associated with such an area. In the modern world, a highly intelligent man like Goggins can be seen as lower in intelligence, not because he lacks intelligence, but because his form of intelligence is different.
It made me sad when I heard Goggin's says — he was never blessed with intelligence — of course, he was. All you have to do is look at Goggin's head and it becomes immediately apparent he is intelligent. Skull size correlates to brain size which equates with intelligence. The man has a boulder of a head for crying out loud.
Many would say Goggin's is street smart, but that's doing him an injustice. He is smart and intelligent it's just a special type that is predominately visual, which brings new and different insights into the world.
Goggin's idea of the cookie jar is visual.
He constantly tells us to visualize.
He is a visually intelligent man.
Goggins quote:
"Visualize this....Close your eyes before you walk to the ring of life. Think about this as your eyes are closed.
To exist in this world, we must contend with humiliation, broken dreams, sadness, & pain! No motherfucker can avoid it! We are programmed to seek comfort as a way to numb it all out and cushion the blow! The weak-minded are looking for safe spaces to hide.
OH, but there are a few of us that seek out misery, pain, and discomfort! You are that person! You must be the person that prays for the worst situation possible because, you know if it goes that way, you will win!!
Suffering is not for the weak! It’s for the motherfucker looking for the beginning of his/her soul! You want to see where most people’s desire and will ends and yours begins!
When pain comes to you and it will, make sure you are that person who smiles knowing that THIS IS HOME. Now open your eyes and crush all that comes before you! You and only you know the pain you are willing to endure to achieve what others think is the impossible! Stay savage!"
- David Goggins
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