If athletes, entrepreneurs, and first responders learn to develop mental toughness for their roles, it is clear that this is something one can nurture and practice.
Practice, as it does for musicians, can make even the most difficult things feel like second nature. And people who show grit, determination, and a positive outlook in all aspects of their lives tend to share seven basic qualities or habits of mental toughness that anyone can practice.
First, they recognize their limited ability to influence issues beyond their control. That means they stop dwelling on unsolvable problems, and they disengage from anxiety and uncertainty to focus their efforts where they can have real impact.
Next, mentally tough folks are flexible when surprises crop up. They adapt plans rather than getting paralyzed by change. They train to be mentally agile enough to handle life’s curveballs, like unexpected traffic jams or canceled flights.
Third, strong self-awareness powers mentally tough people’s confidence. By knowing their strengths and their flaws, they can better control their emotions, handle stress, and stay resilient.
Fourth, mentally tough folks don’t let uncertainty deter them. They know plans might fail, and goals may not be met – and they act anyway. Tough experiences build this willingness, so they don’t back away from a challenge, either.
For those practicing resilience, disappointments are seen as opportunities. Failures reveal what’s not working so they can improve – it’s as simple as that. This mindset is the fifth habit of mentally tough people, and helps them bounce back faster and better. Plus, they don’t suffer quite so much along the way.
Sixth, negative emotions like anger and frustration are mastered, rather than allowed to escalate, in mentally tough folks. That means feeling emotional responses as they are, but not letting them run the show. Mastery comes from developing the emotional intelligence to self-regulate.
And the seventh habit of resilient and mentally tough people is that they let practical optimism lift their attitude. They focus on hope – they don’t dwell in gloom. Cautious optimism sees chances amid disasters, and can snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
And don’t fool yourself: no one is born tough. The good news is that we can build mental muscle by incorporating these seven habits to improve the outcome whenever disaster strikes, while developing the grit and determination to perform under pressure. A startup founder who is flexible when a product launches badly will adapt plans to improve the product instead of indulging in self-criticism or shifting blame. She adapts – and business improves.
Or imagine a high-performing athlete who disengages from the sports scandals she can’t control. Her improved mental focus can give her a powerful competitive edge. And a laid-off worker who sees unemployed time as a chance to acquire or improve skills will spend far less time feeling overwhelmed or self-critical.
So practicing these habits can make all the difference when the unforeseen comes calling – but what happens when mental toughness isn’t in the mix? In our next article we’re going to tackle it.
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