How to Be Mentally Tough in Life | Mental Toughness

If you are less than 30 and you visualize yourself in the future, you will see yourself in need of skills you don’t have now. (And if you are above 30, you may see yourself in need, as well!)

If you are an athlete, you will need technique and footwork and strength to play better.
If you are a singer, you will need to improve your ear, pitch and tone.
If you are destined to run a business, you will need financial knowledge, strategy and planning expertise.
Correct.
And, all three of the above, ALSO need mental toughness.
Yes, mental toughness. It’s not just reserved for athletes. Everyone needs it and here’s why:

“Mental toughness is about removing the barriers that are interfering with you reaching your optimal level of potential.”

What do you forsee getting in your way as you manage your first business meeting or try to win a part in the community play or compete in your first collegiate football game after being the most sought after athlete in the state? If it’s not a technical skill that you are lacking, it may be a mental/emotional skill you are lacking.

Some examples of barriers to your top performance may include:

EXPECTATIONS THAT CREATE PRESSURE
LACK OF CONFIDENCE
LACK OF TRUST IN YOUR SKILLS
LACK OF PROCESS TO USE FOR FOCUSING YOUR MIND
LACK OF COMPOSURE AFTER A MISTAKE OR SETBACK
PERFORMANCE INHIBITING NERVES

These are all mental toughness challenges. These are all a problem for high achieving individuals.

A high percentage of driven competitors in any field begin to feel pressure after early success.

What should they do about it?

A high percentage of high performers begin to doubt themselves at some point, even after loads of success.

What should they do about it?

A high percentage of high performers begin to “overthink” and stop trusting their skills.

What should they do about it?

All of these are real and all of these are “fixable”….but the interesting thing is this phenomenon:

1. The only people who consider mental toughness training are athletes. And MOST athletes don’t really think they need it….

2. Even the athletes who do consider the mental toughness elements of sport to be important, often think that working with a mental coach is “too expensive.” They will invest thousands of dollars into coaching, travel, and competition and then they leave their mental development to chance, hoping that they learn through experience.

The main barrier I hear to athletes not wanting to do mental toughness training?

1. I don’t have time
2. It’s too expensive

The reality:

1. They spend hours and hours on the field or court or in the gym training. THEY HAVE TIME.
2. They spend thousands and thousands of dollars to compete, train and travel. THEY HAVE MONEY.

What they don’t have is their priorities straight. Investing in mental toughness is investing in personal leadership. If a person can leave expectations at the door, focus their mind on what is within their control and nothing else, manage their emotions under pressure and problem solve calmly under adversity, they will excel in life — the board room, the athletic field, the community stage, the ACT test, the family dinner table.

That’s what Vital Leaderships strives to facilitate for athletes and non-athletes.