4 More Ways To Develop Mental Toughness

Mental strength is an undervalued trait. This is a common trait among the most successful people on Earth. Just like your physical strength, your mental strength is something that can be improved over time. We see so many people hitting the gym or exercising to strengthen their bodies. But people don't put enough efforts into building their mental prowess.

In my previous article, I discussed the importance of confidence, adaptability and positive thinking. Today, I am going to give you 4 more ways to improve your mental toughness.

As humans, our brains are hardwired to seek comfort. But all the great things in life happen outside your comfort zone. Stepping outside your comfort zone constantly makes you mentally tough. It shows that you're brave enough to deal with uncertainty. It shows that you are willing to sacrifice your comfort to achieve something greater.

Discomfort is good

It's easy to do things, when things are going right. But you need to be tough, to continue doing something when things aren't going your way. Remember the more uncomfortable you get, the more you improve. Great things don't come to the one who seeks comfort. They come to the person who constantly seeks the right kind of discomfort.

Current Situation

We live in a world where opportunities are abundant. The entire world is connected. No one in the history of mankind has had as many opportunities as we do now. But the only catch is that we're not mentally tough. Our lives have become so comfortable that we are just ready to settle.

Back in the day, even simple tasks were uncomfortable and required exertion. But now everything is so easy. There is instant gratification. So people don't want to leave their bubble.

Opportunity

This is a great chance for you. Since the people around aren't mentally tough, you have the option of standing out. There are so many beautiful opportunities and so less people willing to fight for them. All you have to do is get out of your comfort zone and become mentally tough.

Your perspective on things can change the entire narrative. You can reframe negative experiences to positive learning experiences. You just have to look into things more deeply.

Detect the root cause

Sometimes your problems are not as big as they seem. Maybe you are getting frustrated because of something else. You might not be affected by a break up because your partner left you. It might be because this keeps happening and it makes you feel that you're not loved. You might snap at something small your child did because of your work pressure.

So always ask yourself, what am I actually angry/frustrated at? Be patient with yourself and others. Not letting one aspect of your life affect the others improves your mental toughness.

Gratitude diary

Every night spend some time on this. Write down 10 things you're grateful for. Do this everyday. Whenever you're feeling low read this. It reminds you of all the good things in your life. It also gives you the strength to face your problems.

Accept the uncontrollable

The world we live in is extremely complex. Every action of every person results in a chain of events. We can control only one small portion of this. So it is important to learn to accept what we cannot control.

Mental toughness is a skill. So it can always be enhanced and mastered. Set realistic goals that push you. These goals shouldn't be comfortably achievable. At the same time , they shouldn't be too difficult. It's important to find the right balance.

Example

Your goal could be, "Once a month I shall do something that I have always been scared of trying". A few months later, you can change the frequency to once in 3 weeks. But you need to be patient with this process.

Aim higher

In every activity you do, start aiming higher. It could be your work, fitness or even your hobbies. Think of how much you can achieve comfortably. Strive to achieve a little higher than that. This will only improve the particular skills you are working on. In addition, it will improve the underlying skill of mental toughness.

The lion isn't the biggest, tallest, fastest or the wisest animal in the jungle. But still it is referred to as the king. This is because it is bold and courageous. The elephant looks at the lion and thinks of him as a hunter. But the lion looks at the elephant, and thinks of it as food.

A mentally weak person perceives everything as a problem. But a mentally strong person perceives the same situation as an opportunity. The elephant might be much stronger physically. But the mental toughness of the lion is what makes him the king.

Mental toughness is not about having a dominant personality. It is about having the strength to do things that make you uncomfortable. It is about focusing on the one good thing in life even if 10 other things are bad. It is about pushing yourself everyday to become a better person. Follow these steps and work on your mental toughness. You will definitely thank yourself in the future.