Its not as easy to just be tougher, though.
Here are some tactics to toughen up your mind for lifes hard knocks.
What is Mental Toughness?
Mental toughness is keeping strong in the face of adversity.
Its the ability to keep your focus and determination despite the difficulties you encounter.
Mental toughness gives you the tenacity to learn from your mistakes without thedevastating blow failure can sometimes deal.
They say lifes tough, get a helmet.
These tactics can help you create the helmet you need.
Manage Your Expectations
The best offense is a good defense.
Lack of control can lower your morale and weaken your mental fortitude.
Flexibility and the ability to adapt to situations are key components to laying the groundwork for strong mental resolve.
They maintain humor even when the situation becomes tough.
Take a look at situations from the outside and attempt to see a different perspective.
Orpretend like youre giving advice to yourselfwhen searching for a solution.
We tend to immediately overreact to something, even if we dont completely understand it yet.
Comprehend and understand the pieces first, then put things together and react.
Doing this over time will help youadjust your expectationsto a realistic level.
you could also keep realistic expectations by defining them.
When a problem arises, take some time to ask yourself what outcomes you think are truly possible.
Do this even before you look for solutions, and write them down if youd like.
Mentally tough people know how to keep cool in heated situations.
Resist the urge to blame others.
Also resist the urge to expect too much from them.
Its all about environment.
If you want to get better at dealing with heat, then you go to the desert.
If you want to get better at dealing with cold, then you go up to the mountains.
If you want to get better at dealing with stressful situations, thenyou go to the stressful situations.
Sticking through tough times can give you the confidence you better keep your composure when stuff hits the fan.
Its okay to be in touch with emotions, but having some control over them is beneficial.
So where do you find motivation?
The simple answer is that you have to ask yourself, why?
Why do I need to solve this problem?
Why do I need to get through this?
Why do I need to get stronger, faster, healthier?
Asking yourself these types of questions helps identify the true reason you need or want to accomplish something.
Answers like because I have to dont help you.
Your reasons to act might be something like:
Because I want to be better at what I do.
Because this person needs me.
Because I want to live longer / look a certain way / feel a certain way.
For example, if youre bad at flossing, push yourself to floss when you shower.
Dr. Sean Richardson spoke about failure and its relation to mental toughness in a November, 2011 TEDx talk.
Some things arent always worth your time, though.
So why waste your power on things you cant control?
For some people, its politics.
For others, its family.
For others, its global warming.
Whatever it is, you
care,
and you want others to care.
Do what you
can
do: Vote.
Lend a listening ear.
Recycle, and reduce your carbon footprint.
Do what
you
can do.
Be your own changebut dont make a run at make everyone else change.
Some things you just have to completely let go.
Developing mental toughness is a process and its not something you’re free to conjure overnight.
It takes a lot of patience and a conscious effort to become more resilient.
Photos byNemo,OpenClips,Tyler Bolken,Roland Tanglao,TheeErin,(rinse).
More on mental health and online therapy from G/O Medias partner.
