12 Keys of Mental Toughness

Lessons from those who’ve mastered it.

I believe that mental (and emotional) toughness is the resilience that empowers us to not only move through life’s challenges, but also to thrive as a result of them. It’s what helps us keep our focus, perspective, and enthusiasm even when the days darken, so we can step even further into the light on the other side.

Below, we’ll discuss some of the behaviors and the beliefs of those who embody the mental strength necessary to choose the life that they live, not have it dictated for them by others.

1: They keep things in perspective.

Anyone who knows me in real life will tell you that I’m pretty even-tempered. I am calm, laid back, and relaxed. I don’t get easily worked up or stressed — at least, I don’t show it externally when I do.

This doesn’t mean that I don’t acknowledge problems or challenges, but instead, I keep them in perspective and allocate a proportionate amount of energy to them.

In other words, I don’t react at a level 10 towards a level 2 problem.

It’s natural for our mind to run away from us at times and create a story that easily spirals out of control. We’ve all experienced the “Web MD” effect where you Google your cough and suddenly you’re…