mental toughness and resilience · 2016. 8. 26. · mental toughness and resilience what is mental...

MentalToughnessandResilience

Whatismentaltoughness?Beforewecanclearlydefinementaltoughnessitisimportanttorecognizewhatitisnot.Mentaltoughnessdoesnothaveanythingtodowithbeingtoughinthemachosenseoftheword.However,itdoesinvolvebeingtoughinthesenseofimprovingconfidenceandresilience.Mentaltoughnessisbestunderstoodasamindsetwhichdescribesthedefaultresponsewemakewhenfacedwithstressors,pressuresorchallenges.The4C’sofMentalToughness

1. Control:Involvestheextenttowhichindividualsfeelincontroloftheirlivesandcircumstances,aswellashowonecontrolstheiremotions.

2. Commitment:Describeshowcommittedanindividualistocompletesetgoals.3. Challenge:Theextenttowhichsomeonewillpushtheboundaries,embracechange,and

acceptrisk.4. Confidence:Theextenttowhichpeoplebelieveinthemselves.

Developingmentaltoughness:

• Positivethinking• Visualization• Anxietycontrol• GoalSetting• Attentioncontrol

Thereareseveralmethodsthatcanbeusedtodealwiththestresses/difficultiesoflifeanddevelopmentaltoughness.Acommonfocusofthesemethodsrevolvearoundtheideaofcontrol.Tryingtocontrollife’scircumstancesandpreventingbadthingsfromhappeningthroughcontrollingyourresponsestobadsituations.Yourresponsesthenplayintothedesiretobuildself-confidenceandachievepersonalgoals.Thoughmanymethodshaveaself-controldrivenfocus,sometimeslifecannotbecontrolledandtryingtocontrolitleadstofurtherproblems.Whenthisisthecaseitmaybebeneficialtoseekhelpindealingwithlife’sproblemsratherthantryingtocontroleveryaspectofourworldsindividually.