The Link Between Physical Toughness and Mental Toughness
First I will state the obvious. Physical toughness is not the same as being physically strong. You could be physically strong and not physically tough.
There is a clear distinction. Physical strength is easy to measure in a weight room. Furthermore, almost anyone can get physically strong in the weight room by simply following the right program. In typical scenarios, following a strength training program does not require much in terms of resilience. Rather, one just has to be good at following directions. In short, almost anyone can become physically strong and still be mentally weak.
On the other hand, you can’t be physically tough if you’re mentally weak. Physical toughness often requires strength, but is much more than just strength. Physical toughness is a measure of how your body can endure pain caused by fatigue and adverse conditions. While it’s true that pain is physical, research shows that the intensity of the pain one feels is mental.
When it comes to pain, this basically means that although pain itself is not a state of mind, the intensity of how we feel the pain is. What’s more, Linden’s research suggest that positive emotions can minimize the intensity of the pain one feels. Furthermore, the reverse effect of having negative emotions increases the intensity of pain.
This is the link between physical toughness and mental toughness. Mentally tough people have the ability to continue to think positive as they experience more and more physical pain. Those who are mentally weak are prone to not only negative thoughts in the face of physical pain, but also complain and are quick to give up and quit. This is why mentally tough individuals are capable of pushing their bodies beyond the limits of those who are mentally weak.