Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Mental Toughness Training And Its Importance

By Elisabeth Burt


Mental toughness training forms a good defense when one is close to giving up. This would be helpful in sticking through a game, job or workout. This enables one to finish the last mile of a long run and make the last shot of a game even when he is close to collapsing. This allows one to pull through whatever the obstacle. This is ones ability to remain focused and determined to complete an undertaking no matter the difficulties.

You can call it your gut, balls or will, whatever it be to you, it is something that is innate. One thing that you develop early in your life through the surroundings you have or something that you were born with. It is still helpful for one to train for it anytime as this helps to improve tolerance, concentration and patience.

The root for such quality is the motivation you have, one who has this is a self starter. He wills himself to push the limits so he can do what he is passionate about or what is tasked upon him. He needs the least encouragement to nothing of the sort and is also good in setting goals on his own. Goal setting entailed focuses on some immediate future, knowing what is next to do and how to get himself through. Just note what your task is, focus and set your goals as well as your plan of action.

Any high pressure situation could test this in any individual. A regular person would respond to stress with an elevation of brain activity, that which borders on panic. An endurance athlete responds by lowering them, one that is closer to meditation. A relaxed state is quite important for allowing you to perform optimally. Accomplishing this despite fear, pain and pressure is the true essence in mental toughness.

One means to accomplish this is through meditation. There are several ways for one to do this and one has the freedom to choose. It is not necessary though that you follow a specific one, simply clearing the head and tuning out the world for a while would be enough.

This is useful in arousal control, as an alternate to responding in panic, train your body and your mind to relax. Under stressful situations, take slow deep breaths. This will flood the brain with oxygen which would increase ability to think critically and to react with thought.

Visualization also is an important step. Prior to engaging in a challenge, you should already have done it inside your head. Imagine yourself setting up, performing and accomplishing your task. Rehearse the thought in your mind, this makes it easy for you to execute because you already did it mentally and all you would need would be to repeat it through your body.

Challenge yourself every now and then. Step out of the comforts that you know and are accustomed to. Setting on a routine gets you stagnated, progress will not happen. This instills critical thinking and problem solving skills.

This is not limited to work outs, sports or jobs. One can apply this in his personal life too. Mental toughness training would be a helpful tool to any individual.




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