“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable”. That’s really what it boils down to. Mental toughness, dogged perseverance, sheer determination, razor sharp focus, commitment, consistency and sticktoittiveness, (I know that’s not a word, but you get it) all add up to one thing…KEEP IT MOVIN’ no matter what!
I tell you I have really had to exercise this concept since I’ve committed to walking every day for 31 days straight. The act of walking has not been the problem but getting past the mental manusia has definitely proved to be challenging. Pushing past the pain of my blistered feet, rearranging my daily schedule to fit it in, tossing myself off the couch and throwing myself out the door on those days I’ve been dog tired, getting up with the birds and out before the sun comes up, talking myself out of panicking when my asthma flairs up and I’m just on mile one…all of this has required me to “toughen up”, refocus and complete the task at hand. It has not been easy and it darn sure has not been comfortable, but it’s what I’ve had to do and at the end of the day…it’s been worth it.
If I had to come up with a formula for developing mental toughness, I would say these nine things should be a part of the equation:
1) Replace negative self-talk with positive/affirmative self-talk.
2) Forget about being perfect! Instead, focus on improving each and every day.
3) Enjoy every step of the journey because the destination is simply more of the same!
4) Let go of any and all negativity from others. Don’t even allow it into your space.
5) Accept your mistakes and mis-steps. Commit to learning from them and move on…quickly!
6) Compete with one person and one person ONLY….YOURSELF!!
7) Put all of your mental energy into finding the solution and don’t let the problem keep you from moving forward.
8) Celebrate every success no matter how small you think it is.
9) Practice living in the moment.
This journey is not easy but it will be easier to navigate if you make up your mind right now that you are gonna keep it movin’ NO MATTER WHAT! That my friend is the evidence that you have exercised and conditioned your mental toughness muscle. Decide right now to not let it go weak.