MENTAL TOUGHNESS

Mental toughness can be transient. 

You can build it, use it, have it. 

Then it can go away.

It must be constantly cultivated and sought after.

It is not just about working out, dieting or training, but in all aspects of life.

It morphs over time. As you change, it changes with you, allowing you to grow into more avenues and paths that were not open to you before.

It is a necessary component to doing hard things, but it also will not be the only thing that matters.

If you are not strong enough to deadlift 400 pounds, there is no amount of mental toughness that is going to get that bar off the ground for you. 

If you are not within striking distance of having the bike skills of Trystan Hart, there is no amount of mental toughness that will bridge that gap and allow you to surpass him. 

If you are not physically capable of running a 11 second 100m dash, or sub 5 minute mile, there is no amount of mental fitness that will do it for you.

But having the mental fortitude to show up and work toward those goals day in and day out for years on end, may get you there.

Mental toughness is showing up when you don’t want to, not once, but over and over and over.

It is ever changing, and like muscles, becomes stronger the more it is worked.

Every day is a new challenge, a reset. A new test. 

Great, you crushed yesterday, how about today? What about tomorrow?

The burden of constant application.Today was a rest day, did you rest? Or did you deviate from the plan? Mental toughness is doing what you are supposed to do, even if you “feel” like doing something else. 

Setting goals and having a plan to achieve them is not mental toughness, that is the easy part, the fun part. Following through on the work required to achieve the goal is mental toughness.

Show up, do the work at the prescribed intensity and duration, get ready for the next one…Pay your dues one day at a time. 

Tomorrow’s a new day, a new challenge, are you going to show up?

Low expectations and high standards.

Josh