What exactly is mental toughness, and why should it matter to us in our daily lives?
According to research in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, mental toughness gives us the psychological strength to navigate the challenges of life with resilience and focus. It’s about maintaining determination, drive, and confidence under pressure, whether you’re facing the intensity of competition or the demands of a tough project at work.
Mental toughness has been defined as the ability to reframe negative thoughts and handle adverse circumstances. It’s about staying true to our goals despite external pressures or setbacks. We think of it as resilience of the mind. It’s the bridge between us and our goals, the extra push we need to overcome obstacles. Whether it’s sticking to our fitness regimen, overcoming challenging situations, healing from failure or loss, or navigating personal and professional stress, mental toughness empowers us to see challenges as opportunities for growth.
Developing a meditation practice can help us cultivate mental toughness and resilience as we learn to remain in the moment and perfect our ability to frame situations and emotions as just moments in time rather than chronic states or conditions. With this mindset, we can stay focused on our goals.
By being more in control of our mind and body, we are able to reframe many of the events in our lives and view them as challenges that make us stronger rather than events that tear us down. Remember, meditation is difficult, and you are only as strong as the events you have overcome so we should welcome a challenge. By pushing ourselves mentally and even physically, we build mental strength, resilience, and endurance. And conversely, a strong mind enables us to tackle mental, physical and emotional challenges with a new outlook, determination and even optimism.
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