“The Mind Game.” The game is simple. All you need is a brain and a will. If you got that you are already set to go! If you’re interested in developing mental toughness! Keep reading for 3 ways I practice it!
I have been sitting on this concept of mental toughness. Athletics has really taught me that the only true distance between you and your goals is not your physical capacity to get there but your mental ability to achieve it.
You might be confused. Don’t be. Think about it this way.
Mental Toughness is the ability to adapt and thrive or remain stable in situations and experiences that are meant to discourage you off the right path.
Think of the path to your goals like a road from point A to point B with an ungodly amount of potholes. There are ways to maneuver around them. now, let’s say you have successfully been missing them all. That’s great! Now, just as you are about to reach the ¾ of the way down the road you mess up and fall into a pothole. Sounded insane but what you don’t know is that there was no damage done to your car.
You have two choices.
A – Panic and slow down, go outside and check the car. Fear is rising in your chest and your breath is shallow. You don’t want to move forward because you think the vehicle has sustained damage and nervousness has taken over your psyche.
Or
B- slow down a bit, pull over inspect the car and after seeing no damage take a few deep breaths to calm yourself down from the initial shock and get back in the car and drive.
Example A represents allowing the situation to shake your core and create instability.
While example B represents acknowledging the situation and your emotions, then finding your stability to keep moving forward.
Mental toughness is a mind game, if you can successfully create stability in your mind and in your emotions then you have already won.
For me, Mental toughness is something I am constantly working on. It’s not something that comes naturally to me, which kind of sucks, not gonna lie. However, as I continue to read, research, and practice the concept of mental toughness, I how having that mental fortitude can transform the ordinary into extraordinary.
Here are 3 ways that I practice Mental Toughness
#1 Visualization
This is probably my most used method of practicing mental toughness. I am always trying to get better at it. What I do is pretty simple, I find a space in my room or a space that has no people– sometimes even the shower– and take about 5 minutes to go over a situation/jump/event/goal that I am going to encounter or working to achieve. I go over that situation and place myself in that space.
For a jump, I imagine myself on the runway that I will be competing at. If I haven’t been there before I will google it so I can see it. Then I go over my mental image 3-6 times. I usually end when I feel some physical reaction (like my heart rate increasing). This is fun and it really helps you feel out certain situations.
#2 Focus on Internal Motivations
This is something that I have been practicing. Especially because I am working with a new coach. Numbers and external rewards are only 1 part of the equation when it comes to reaching my goals. I have been trying to focus on the things that increase my endorphins while I am going after my goals. For example, for me that is, eating nutritious foods that taste yummy like salmon or roasted broccoli and staying away from veggies that might be good for me but don’t taste as good, like carrots. Another example is reminding myself that everything I am doing is because I want to be doing it! That is a privilege and a huge motivator in itself.
#3 Writing down your highs and lows
I don’t expect that every day is going to be amazing. Some days will be better than others. What has worked for me is writing or even saying out loud some of my highs and the lows of my day that pertain to what I am working towards. It really helps me get a grip on becoming more comfortable with experiencing ups and downs.
Whether you are an athlete, business professional, entrepreneur, performer, medical worker, or even a parent mental toughness is something that will help you produce high-level results! So Let’s play the mind game and go from good to great!
Signing off,
Domonique
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