Time after time you see a
promising athlete come out of college and go into the pros only to bomb out. He
or she had the best athletic ability, yet could not cut it at the
professional level. Others might not have great athletic ability, get picked
late in the draft and go onto become super stars. Tom Brady comes to mind as
someone who wasn’t particularly outstanding in college who has gone on to be a
probable first time inductee into the NFL Hall of Fame.
You are probably asking yourself
by now what is the difference? What do you need to perform at the highest
levels, which is even more important than physical ability?
Mental Toughness
Mental toughness is what separates
the superstar from the merely good. It separates the musicians that play small
party gigs from the rock stars. Someone without mental toughness can have all
the natural talents or ability and not make it as far as someone with mental
toughness with average ability.
The key to mental toughness is
applying consistently the traits of self motivation, positive attitude,
emotional self control, calmness under fire, and being energetic and ready for
action. Consistency is important. Through applying these traits day in and day
out, you will be able to reach new heights in whatever endeavors you seek
whether it be a sport, playing a musical instrument, coding a computer
application or writing a novel.
Let’s look at each of the traits
of mental toughness:
Self Motivation
While some sports are team sports
and other pursuits are done in conjunction with others life is pretty much
played alone. Your motivationmust come from within. The intensity
of your motivation is determined by how badly you want to perform well.
Motivation can be strengthened
many ways. Think back to a failure. That feeling can provide the motivation to
keep going, keep practicing. A time of victory can also provide the motivation
to reclaim that winning feeling. Use time as a motivator. While others relax
you can be gaining on them increasing your skills.
Positive, Realistic Attitude
You are not going to be able to do
everything. In Special Forces we always looked for what someone was good at and
focused on that. By focusing on strengths, you gain confidence and inspiration
from them. You can create your own positive attitude. For example, smaller pro
basketball players do not try to go head to head with others over seven feet
tall, they focus on their speed and ball handling skills. Focus on what your
natural strengths are.
Emotional Self Control
People who are not in control of their emotions get upset when the something doesn’t go as
expected. They alienate spouses, co-workers, teammates by petty, childish
behavior. Mentally tough people have tough skins and don’t let outside
circumstances affect them. There will be many times whether in a game or in
life that things happen outside your control. A mentally tough person keeps
their emotions in check and keeps on with the game plan they had in mind from
the beginning.
Calm Under Fire
Anything worth going for is going
to be high pressure one time or another. Mentally tough people are at their
best under pressure. Calmness under fire isn’t something you just switch
on. The key here is to seek out pressure situations working up from low
pressure to medium pressure to high pressure situations. Perform in front of
larger and larger groups. Seek out better and better opponents, games top
participate in. What seemed like high pressure before will become the new
normal for you.
Energetic and Ready For Action
Mentally tough people get
themselves fire up and ready to go for the battle, performance, game or
whatever it may be. It might be the middle of the night, you might have played
two other performances the same day or you might be under the weather. The
pride you get from doing your best in less than optimal circumstances makes it
that much easier to succeed in all circumstances. The third performance of the
day might not be your best ever, but it should be the best you can possibly
give. The next time when conditions are better you will play better for times
you pushed yourself to give it all.
Conclusion
The great thing about mental
toughness is that you are not born with it. You don’t have to learn it at a
young age. Mental toughness comes simply from the decision to consistently
apply the traits I have talked about. You can start today and reach levels of
your game, relationships, and success that you never thought possible.
Outstanding athletic prowess, superior intellect, musical talent will take
someone so far. Without mental toughness they will not reach their full
potential.
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