Mental Toughness and Achievement
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to accomplish every single goal they chase after? On the extreme end, we have people for whom nothing seems to go right. We all know someone who moves from one big idea to the next, quitting at every tough turn to pursue something that is less taxing. A couple of challenges later, they drop that pursuit for something else, or settle for something that dissatisfies them, but seems easier.
In such moments we are quick to conclude that maybe others in the same field excel because they are smarter or faster or prettier. Yet everyone experiences drawbacks, even with things they are good at.
It takes more than talent or intelligence to achieve your goals. Sometimes, what separates winners from quitters is just the state of mind they choose to develop.
‘Your talent and your intelligence do not play nearly as big of a role as you might think. The research studies that I have found say that intelligence only accounts for 30% of your achievement-and that is at the extreme upper end. What makes a bigger impact than talent or intelligence? Mental toughness.’ James Clear.
What is mental toughness?
Some define mental toughness as the ability to cope with and handle pressure, stress or adversity.
We encounter hard times, more often than we can count in our journeys. We experience stressful situations, and the tide keeps pulling us in until we feel that giving in and drowning in defeat is inevitable. With the daily pressures we experience at school or work to pile onto financial and societal pressure, it is no wonder people give up on their dreams.
Mental toughness is the skill that frees us from having to give up our goals in the face of adverse conditions. When you develop resistance against such adversity, you use your mind first before anything because the mind is our greatest battlefield.
When your mind decides that a goal is unattainable, your spirit diminishes and your passion for the pursuit dries out. You do not put as much energy into it as you would have at the beginning, because your mind is already telling you that you cannot do it.
Mental toughness or grit has you holding on to a dream that appears to be falling apart so you can rebuild it with whatever pieces you have left. A person with a strong mind sees failure and dismisses all negativity to find a reason to try again.
When your attitude against a loss is to try out a different tactic to achieve the goal, then you have mental toughness. If the first instinct you have during a tough season is to find a way out, then your mind is strong.
‘If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.’ Proverb.
Mental toughness and its role in achieving your goals.
Whether you are looking to kick goals in your career, take your education to the next level, or tackle a personal target such as fitness–mental strength is an integral component to success. You cannot achieve anything if your mind is going in a different direction with your passion. The two must merge.
Success begins in the mind when you visualize your goals and what achieving them looks like. Failure also begins in the mind and spreads outward. Going through rough patches does not mean you will not make it to your destination. Turbulence will come, but with a skill like mental toughness, you will land safely in the place you dream of.
Most success stories are lined with rejection and moments where people in positions of influence did not buy into the dream. Had the curators of some amazing inventions and discoveries not developed mental toughness, we would include them in the statistics as quitters.
Training your mind to persevere and build resilience will take you a long way towards your goals. It will build your endurance against shaky moments. Your mental toughness will help you resist the force of the storms that threaten your journey. It is like the roots of a tree that spread so far into the ground that it would take only the toughest of conditions to uproot it.
Your goals will remain attainable no matter the adversity, if only you can build your mental toughness.
Angela Duckworth, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, studies achievement; how your mental toughness, perseverance, and passion impact your ability to achieve goals. She did her research in West Point at some point, where she tracked several cadets looking to join various branches of the army. Like most people, she expected the most athletic and intelligent candidates to finish the initiation program. It was not strength or smarts or leadership potential that accurately predicted whether a cadet would finish the program. Instead, it was grit — the perseverance and passion to achieve long–term goals- that made the difference.
If you want to achieve your goals, you must couple passion and hard work with mental toughness. The combination will propel you to success. Develop mental strength. You will surely achieve your goals.
‘No matter what strategies we discuss, no matter what goals we set our sights on, no matter what vision we have for ourselves and the people that surround us, none of it can become a reality without mental toughness, perseverance, and grit.’ James Clear.
Gregg Swanson helps you become empowered on the relentless pursuit of greatness through cultivating mental resilience, unwavering determination, and a courageous spirit of exploration – enabling individuals to triumph over life’s most daunting challenges and unlock their boundless potential. Request a Breakthrough Session today!
