Toughness is an attributed that is appreciated and celebrated. We all want to be able to take punches like Rocky without giving up.
Physically, toughness can be trained in the gym by lifting weights, doing cardio, or anything else you light to do that challenges you body.
On the other hand, mental toughness is something that is built over time by challenging yourself. It’s cultivated during consistent struggle. It’s putting yourself in positions that make you want to quit and forcing yourself to see through the finish line.
If you want to become more mentally tough, here are some things you can do:
Break things down
It’s hard to look at a massive challenge in its entirety without feeling intimidated. Your mind has a difficult time processing long-term goals because they seem so far away. In order to better understand your goals (and therefore accomplish them) you may need to break them into smaller, more achievable goals.
Breaking down your larger goals into smaller chunks will help you stay motivated by giving you a sense of accomplishment sooner and more often. It’s way easier to grasp a smaller, shorter struggle for a short-term goal than the long one required for a long-term goal.
Be self-motivated
It takes mental toughness to do things you don’t want to do consistently. On days when nothing motivates you, will you be able to drag yourself to the gym? That’s what separates the ones who succeed and find consistent results from the ones who never quite reach their potential.
Find tricks you know will get you pumped up when you feel like you don’t want to do anything. You should know what inspires and motivates you. Know your mind, your body, and what works best for both of them. It takes toughness and a strong sense of self to motivate yourself.
Embrace the struggle
Pain is just weakness leaving the body, as they say. Mental toughness is about being able to push through the toughest challenges with a smile on your face. You have to not only be able to get through the tough parts – you have to be able to enjoy them.
Learn to enjoy the feeling of exhaustion. Exercise will naturally release endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine that will make you feel happy, relieve stress, and prevent depression. It’ll help you sleep better, feel more fulfilled, and get ready do it all over again the next day.
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