Keys for Mental Toughness

When it comes to getting an edge on the competition, mental strength is key.  It doesn’t matter what aspect of life you are in, there will be times that are hard.  There are challenges that push us in ways we never have been pushed before.  Obstacles stand in our way all the time. The ability to handle these hardships and persevere is key in accomplishing your goals.  When you think about the “Psychology of Competition”, being mentally tough is of the utmost importance.  What does it take to be a mentally tough person?

Understanding that these difficulties that you are facing really are only temporary is extremely important.  The way that you go about addressing and attacking problems is the first key in mental toughness.  A quote that really helps me is, “Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.”  A mentally tough person doesn’t dwell on their plight, they see a problem for what it is and work on solutions.  Choosing to feel bad for a long time only hinders you.  Accepting that a challenge is ahead of you, and realizing that it will be difficult are important in addressing problems.  Once you accept that something is hard, your expectations are appropriately set, and you can now overcome.

At times when it is hard to find the will to attack problems, you must remember the motives that brought you to this point.  A mentally tough person doesn’t let the pain of the moment get in the way of the potential joy that is ahead of them.  It is really easy to be “near sighted” when problems are in front of us.  We forget what is important, and just want to get rid of the pain in the easiest way.  Being mentally tough requires a long term perspective which allows you to push forward through problems you face.

If there are issues that you cant control, let them go.  Take care of things that you can control.  It does you no good to try to handle things that you cant control.  Things like a Boss’s attitude, or weather conditions are situations you don’t have much control over.  However, you do have control with how you face them.  To be mentally tough you must realize this, and not let these things affect how you want to continue on.

In life there will be a lot of critics. Don’t take everything they say personally.  There are a lot of people who will try to tear you down, and some who are actually trying to help.  Being mentally tough allows you not to see these criticisms as personal attacks.  Take them for what they are, and address problems that they bring up.  If a person tells you that you can do something in a better way, they (probably) aren’t telling you that you are dumb, inadequate person.  Look at their claim, and if it is better, change what you’ve done.  It is so easy to let pride get in the way, and not listen to other’s suggestions.  A mentally tough person can see criticism as a way to get better, and they don’t get upset when it’s not exactly how they imagined it.

When you get in the thick of it, and monotony starts to wear most people down, having strong habits will help you stay sharp.  Often times we are really excited to accomplish goals in the beginning, but by week 5 or 6, things start to become boring and hard.  This is where a lot of people let excuses get in the way.  Having secure habits can get you through this time.  When you are trying to improve to win, every day is an opportunity to get better.  Mentally weak people will miss out on many days over the course of their time because they don’t have habits that keep them focused.  By setting up daily/weekly routines that are in accordance to your goals, you will accomplish so much more.  You will be tested, and want to not do these habits.  However, if you start while the fire is still hot, routines set in and it starts to feel weird when you miss a day.  No one is perfect, but mentally tough people will rebound and continue on with their habits.