“Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory”- Bill Russel
This past week I experienced and observed mental toughness hiking through the West Coast Trail. The group of eight women and one male took on this 76km adventure, hiking through knee-deep mud, fast flowing rivers, walking along slippery fallen logs, up and down 100-foot ladders, but remaining in this trance of sheer determination and concentration to finish. Some of these women thought they were in hell and going through the hardest thing, they had ever done. All of these women were mental strong; whom I have so much respect for. Hiking 42km in one day for 14hours is an unbelievable accomplishment and half of that achievement was because they were mentally strong. The west coast trail is an experience of up and down emotions. You start out strong and in good spirits, but once you are in the 9th hour of the hike, the chatter stops and you dig deep to focus on each step, trying to ignore all the aches and pains in your body. However, you can only push the mind and body so far. For the “2day group” when it came to the decision if we should carry on in the dark to finish in two days, it was the breaking point for some. They physically and mentally, could not or did not want to go any further that night.
So how do you describe a person who is mentally tough? These eight women showed extreme mental toughness but there are so many different scenarios out there and not just in the physical sphere. Businesses, relationships, all have an aspect of mental challenges to achieve greatness.
I believe it is the attitude that one has to get the job done! In all aspects of life, mental toughness is demonstrated when someone needs to reach down and draw out efforts beyond they knew they had or at least wanted to give to achieve.
How can you improve you own mental toughness?
1. Being personally accountable. You are in control of your own life, your own choices. “What you think and do determine for the most part where you end up.”
2. Goals. What are you going to achieve and how are you going to get there. “Choosing is mental toughness; failing to choose is personal weakness.”
3. Planning. Breaking down that goal that you have set into smaller steps.
4. Prepare for the unexpected. Everyday you will come across obstacles to achieve your goal, the question is how are you going to overcome those obstacles.
5. Action.
6. Giving and 100% and then some. Going that extra mile to achieve your goal.
7. Support group/Team. Being around like-minded individuals who will help you reach your goal and help you in anyway they can.
8. Reflection. Always look back and see how you can improve for next time, what went well and what needs to be changed.
So how do you describe a person who is mentally tough? These eight women showed extreme mental toughness but there are so many different scenarios out there and not just in the physical sphere. Businesses, relationships, all have an aspect of mental challenges to achieve greatness.
I believe it is the attitude that one has to get the job done! In all aspects of life, mental toughness is demonstrated when someone needs to reach down and draw out efforts beyond they knew they had or at least wanted to give to achieve.
How can you improve you own mental toughness?
1. Being personally accountable. You are in control of your own life, your own choices. “What you think and do determine for the most part where you end up.”
2. Goals. What are you going to achieve and how are you going to get there. “Choosing is mental toughness; failing to choose is personal weakness.”
3. Planning. Breaking down that goal that you have set into smaller steps.
4. Prepare for the unexpected. Everyday you will come across obstacles to achieve your goal, the question is how are you going to overcome those obstacles.
5. Action.
6. Giving and 100% and then some. Going that extra mile to achieve your goal.
7. Support group/Team. Being around like-minded individuals who will help you reach your goal and help you in anyway they can.
8. Reflection. Always look back and see how you can improve for next time, what went well and what needs to be changed.
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