Mental toughness is essential for achieving lofty goals or overcoming extreme obstacles. Few great things in life come without some form of adversity. Nothing extraordinary occurs within our comfort zones. Whether we're talking about getting a promotion, overcoming adversity in a marriage, mastering a sport, starting or saving a small business, battling disease, grieving the loss of a loved one, raising children, or hunting terrorists, there will always be some suffering involved. That is why the things we care about and strive for are rewarding.
The psychological traits of grit and resilience have been extensively researched, but the question of how we develop mental toughness remains unanswered. You can improve your mental toughness by developing a variety of habits. In fact, the characteristics of mentally tough people are strategies that anyone can employ on a daily basis.
True commitment should be practiced:
People who are resilient are dedicated to their lives and goals. They have a compelling reason to get out of bed early in the morning! They are not easily discouraged or distracted by "opportunities" that have nothing to do with their desired outcomes.
Enjoy a good challenge:
Obstacles are viewed as a challenge by mentally tough people, not as a paralyzing event. Failures and mistakes are viewed as lessons to be learned and opportunities for growth. In other words, because they lean in, they are better able to overcome obstacles than others.
Concentrate on what they can control:
Resilient people focus their time and energy on situations and events over which they have control. And they feel empowered and confident because they direct their efforts where they will have the greatest impact.
Recognize the significance of emotional intelligence:
The foundation of mental toughness is emotional intelligence. You can't be mentally tough unless you can fully understand and tolerate strong negative emotions while also doing something productive with them. Moments that put your mental toughness to the test also put your emotional intelligence to the test (EQ).
Demonstrate genuine assurance:
"Whether you think you can or think you can't – you're right," Henry Ford once said. According to research, confident people achieve more of their goals, earn higher incomes, and advance more quickly than their counterparts. True confidence, as opposed to the false confidence that people project to cover up their insecurities, is a completely different beast. Mentally tough people keep moving forward in the face of adversity.
Learn from your mistakes, but don't dwell on them:
There is a significant difference here. People and teams who demonstrate genuine mental fortitude master the fine art of debriefing – or after-action reviews, as they are known in the military. When pursuing any goal, project, or challenge, it is critical to reflect on what is going well, what isn't, and where you can improve. Debriefing victories is just as important as debriefing defeats. Extract useful information and move on.
Mental toughness is not a natural trait bestowed upon a select few. It is achievable and enjoyable for everyone, but it takes deliberate practice. So get to work!