It’s what separates the dreamers from the achievers, and talents and intelligence has little to do with it. Developing mental toughness means getting out of your comfort zone on a regular basis.
Try these 3 strategies:
1. Define what mental toughness means to you.
- Does it mean getting to the gym 4 times per week?
- Does it mean sticking to your nutrition all week?
- Does it mean taking time out of your schedule to spend time with friends and family?
You can’t magically think your way to becoming mentally tough, you prove it to yourself by doing something in real life.
2. Mental toughness is built through small wins.
Mental toughness is like a muscle: it needs to be worked to grow and develop. If you haven’t pushed yourself in thousands of small ways, of course you’ll crumble when things get really difficult.
Choose to do the tenth rep when it would be easier to just do nine. Choose to create when it would be easier to consume. Choose to ask the extra question when it would be easier to accept. Prove to yourself, in a thousand tiny ways, that you have enough guts to get in the ring and do battle with life.
3. Mental toughness is about your habits, not your motivation.
Mentally tough people don’t have to be more courageous, more talented, or more intelligent; just more consistent. Mentally tough people develop systems that help them focus on the important stuff regardless of how many obstacles life puts in front of them. It’s their habits that form the foundation of their mental beliefs and ultimately set them apart.
Mental toughness comes down to your habits. It’s about doing the things you know you’re supposed to do on a more consistent basis. It’s about your dedication to daily practice and your ability to stick to a schedule.