Mental Toughness for Athletes and Performers: What It Is, and What It Isn't?
Mental toughness is an intangible quality that enables athletes and performers to consistently perform well under pressure. It’s a crucial factor in the success of any athlete or performer, and it’s something that can be developed and nurtured over time.
The mental and physical are not the same
Mental toughness is not the same as physical toughness. While physical strength and ability are important, they do not guarantee success in sports or performance endeavors. Mental toughness requires a different kind of strength and is composed of a number of different attributes that are developed over time.
What does mental toughness really mean?
Mental toughness involves the ability to remain focused on the task at hand, to relentlessly pursue excellence, and to consistently manage emotions in order to achieve peak performance. Mental toughness can also be thought of as a form of “mental resilience,” which enables an athlete or performer to cope better with the inevitable challenges and setbacks encountered over time.
Positivity and Adversity Go Hand in Hand
Mental toughness involves the ability to stay positive even in the face of adversity, to maintain a competitive edge when it counts the most, and to stay focused on the goal even when things don’t go as planned. Mental toughness requires a great deal of hard work and dedication, but it can be developed if the right steps are taken.
Encourages Helpful Goal Setting and Feedback
Developing mental toughness involves setting and working towards specific goals, maintaining a positive attitude in all situations, and having a resiliency to bounce back from failure or disappointment. It also requires the ability to stay grounded when the stakes are high and to remain positive in the face of criticism or negative feedback.
Helps to instill belief in oneself and encourages healthy habits
In addition, developing mental toughness involves having a strong belief in one’s own abilities, developing a healthy sleep and nutrition routine, and having a good support system in place. With the right attitude, hard work, and dedication, any athlete or performer can develop mental toughness and take their performance to the next level.
What Mental Toughness is not?
While mental toughness is a great tool for many performers and athletes. There are healthy ways to engage in this and unhealthy ways to engage in this.
This does not mean unhealthy behaviors should be reinforced
First and foremost, what isn't ok is when you have coaches or teachers shaming, degrading, ignoring your wellness, or discounting your needs.
We are not robots without needs
Mental toughness isn't about being a robot and going through the motions without feeling anything. It's also not about disregarding your needs in order to pursue a goal. Mental toughness is about making sure that you are taking care of yourself and building that resilience in the face of difficulty, not sacrificing your wellbeing in order to achieve something.
We cannot always be positive
Mental toughness is also not about staying positive all the time; it’s ok to feel sad, upset, and angry. Mental toughness is about processing these emotions in a healthy manner, not suppressing them.
Mental toughness does not mean not taking a break
Lastly, mental toughness is not about pushing yourself too hard and ignoring the signs when you should take a break. It’s about understanding your body and its limits, as well as knowing when to work hard and when to rest.
Mental Toughness is Valuable When Used Responsibly
Mental toughness is an invaluable quality that can help athletes and performers reach their highest potential, but it needs to be used in a responsible and healthy manner. Otherwise, that can lead to performance anxiety, self-esteem issues, shame, guilt, trauma, or disordered eating behaviors. It's important to recognize when too much is too much and to make sure that your mental toughness journey is focused on your overall well-being.
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Who is Jasmine?
Jasmine, a Master's Level Counselor at Aspire Counseling, believes that therapy can be an invaluable tool for those who are struggling. She specializes in working with high achievers, athletes, anxious individuals, trauma survivors, disordered eating sufferers, and people with body image issues. Her particular area of interest is supporting the BIPOC, Black, Neurodivergent (ADHD, ADD, HSP), and Adopted communities. Starting therapy may be scary, but Jasmine is here to make sure that those who reach out find a safe place in which they can feel comfortable and supported. With the right fit, therapy can be a life-changing experience. Jasmine is dedicated to providing an understanding, compassionate and non-judgmental environment for her clients.
