How to Build "Mental Toughness"

Joel Younkins

I know you've at least heard about Mental Toughness, or you have been exposed to this term at some point in your life.
You may have heard things like...

"That person is mentally tough, they never stop!"
"You got to be mentally tough!"
"The team that is more mentally tough, will be the team that wins!"

Okay, so we've heard this before, but how do we build this umbrella mentality that so many people talk about? 

Most people associate Mental Toughness Development with doing things that make you suffer or uncomfortable, even if these things don't have any positive impact in your targeted goals. And because Mental Toughness is such a broad term, can you really measure the success of it? 

I get what people want to see out of a high performing individual when they say Mental Toughness. They want to see people who...

• Keep Fighting to Win
• Have Grit
• Don't Get Tired
• Execute When Times Are Hard
• Control Their Emotions

So, I have my philosophy on how to build this "Mental Toughness" that everyone likes to talk about that I want to share with you. My plan is very confusing so pay attention closely (sarcasm)...

1.) High Expectations
If you expect yourself to do something a certain way all of the time, it's easier for that to be a reality to believe in yourself. Even when things get hard, you still believe because of your predetermined expectations that you've put on yourself.

2.) Consistency
In your work/preparation, build consistency. This will make your performances more and more consistent. When consistency becomes more and more concrete for you, outside forces will have a harder time disrupting your consistent performances.

3.) Preparation
Prepare Prepare Prepare. When you're prepared Physically, Technically, and Tactically, you are extremely difficult to beat!

I 100% believe that building Mental Toughness is a slow process that is always on going by doing things right in your preparation. When you are preparing, keep your expectations high for yourself, be consistent in your preparation, and make sure when you are preparing, you are preparing for the right things that you'll be up against...When the time comes to shine, and you've been doing these three things very well, people will be saying that you're the one who is Mentally Tough!

Talk soon!
​-Joel

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