You hear the term mental toughness used all the time. So and so is labeled mentally tough, what does that mean? What is mental toughness? Can you teach it? Can you learn it? I don’t believe in mental toughness, never have. I think mental toughness is a term without much meaning; it is a convenient label that is often used as an excuse.I do believe in willpower, determination and perseverance. Ath
Mental Toughness Myth or Reality?
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What is the difference between mental strength and mental toughness?
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Mental toughness is not taught by absolutely obliterating someone on the field, NO!. Stupid training mechanisms like that fail because,its is not scientifically based. We cant forget that there is an entire field of psychology and many brilliant scientists dedicated to the study of this. Mental toughness is the ability to be able to cope with stress and refocus your mind onto the relevant information and continue to execute a performance. There are specific training protocols to help athletes accomplish this and they are done off the field by trained professionals. The things that you mention of how to be become mentally stronger at the end of you statement, is mental skills training. A means to develop the tools that are necessary to meet the broad definition of mental toughness. It is not just an inherent trait either. Those elite athletes you mentioned were shaped by their up bringing and the psychology of their brain (their “mental strength muscle”) was forever changed. They learned to act a certain way or do things a specific way. Carl, you have mentioned many times, the book “Don’t be Fooled by Randomness”. Those elite athletes got to the level they are because, they learned those skills and ways of analyzing performance. They were taught these skills. Not everyone has and additionally, when you are dealing with an attempt to reverse 20 years of thinking the opposite direction it isn’t an easy task. Some amount of inherent ability is required, it is undeniable, but the want the inherent want to succeed does not create success. Performance is trained and the performance of the brain is also trained just like everything else on the body. It simply takes a different type of training. Lastly, I would argue that the subjects that you are referring to as not being mentally tough, are people that if you interviewed tediously, would show sign that were they are is not what they really want to be focused on doing.
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Don’t mind many of the typos in there. Typing on a tablet is really finicky, haha.
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I apologize, I made some slightly inaccurate statements in there. Training is done by a professional, but it starts with mental skills training off, the field and then brought into practice and into more complex training systems integrated with typical practice. Also mental toughness is what I mentioned used in a manner to overcome adversity.
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There is absolutely no doubt that mental toughness is a fact, Vern’s use of “perseverance, determination” are just other terms for mental toughness. Just look around you. Look at your colleagues and direct reports. Unless you believe in continuously upgrading your human capital I am sure you have a few weak minded people around you. You don’t have to complete an Ironman to see if you have mental toughness.
It’s a decision and personal choice. I have noticed mental toughness does not always seem to populate all aspects of someones life, usually it does, but not always. It may just be that someone slid through in one aspect of life and then they get hammered and reality hits them in another aspect…..example, I have hired a couple former football players who ended up being weak minded when it came to the competitive reality of work. They did have a softy as head coach in college though.
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I believe it’s a reality in some sports more than others.
[img]https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_atrK-jBKJKY/SP5KBCDGLgI/AAAAAAAADik/KojuZlAy6l8/s1600/Pedro+Delgado+Giro+1988.bmp[/img]
[img]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_atrK-jBKJKY/SP5KBRZ3MwI/AAAAAAAADis/X3kyXEN7UDI/s1600/Gavia1988.jpg[/img]
[img]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3XotgGubjf0/TaD_jzLzB0I/AAAAAAAAD9g/daWvpgNxcco/s1600/fshincapie2.jpg[/img]
Absolutely love it. Giro d Italia at Gavia pass and Paris-Roubaix on bottom.
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…It’s a decision and personal choice. I have noticed mental toughness does not always seem to populate all aspects of someones life, usually it does, but not always. It may just be that someone slid through in one aspect of life and then they get hammered and reality hits them in another aspect…..example, I have hired a couple former football players who ended up being weak minded when it came to the competitive reality of work. They did have a softy as head coach in college though.
I completely agree with this statement. I know many people who are incredibly disciplined, persistent and mentally tough in one or more area’s of their life (fitness, competition, diet, business, education, family etc. etc.) but completely undisciplined and ready to quit in others. Its a complicated issue, but desire, risk/return, and many other factors are involved.
Not quite the same, but similar in theory, is a phrase I use with many I work with (not just athletics) that I lifted off of several others who said it before me…
Even a ferocious desire to win is meaningless without an equally ferocious desire to prepare.
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Mental toughness comes from motivation and drive. In my job, I’ve learned that you can far exceed what your presumed ability level is by surrounding yourself with like minded indivudals. Mental toughness is influenced as much by outside factors as internal factors. Group dynamics and having a purpose go a long way in producing a mentally tough individual. If you don’t have the confidence you can complete the task at hand due to past training you won’t be mentally tough, so training is a big part as well.
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The pictures are Americans Andy hampsten and George hincapie I believe.
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