Thursday, January 31, 2013

The Importance Of Mental Toughness Training

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 of this quality is motivation, people who have this are self starters. He would will himself to push limits so tasks are accomplished and also would do this for his passion. He would need the least encouragement or none at all and would be excellent at setting his own goals. The goal setting entailed is focused on an immediate future, he would know what is there next for him to do and how he would accomplish that. See what task is at hand, focus on it and set goals and device the 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.

Visualizing is also an important step. Before taking on a challenge, it should have already been accomplished in your head. One can imagine himself setting up for the task, doing it and accomplishing it. Rehearse this over the mind, it would then be easy to execute as one has already done it in his mind, all that would be needed is to repeat it with the body.

You will need to challenge yourself from time to time. Get out of your comfort zone. To settle to one routine would be equal to stagnation, you really cannot expect any more progress there. This can instill problem solving skills and also critical thinking, all helpful in any situation.

Its use is not limited in sports, jobs or work outs. You can apply this with your personal life too. The mental toughness training will be a useful tool to anybody.




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