When a Young Athlete Knows They Need More Mental Toughness
If a young athlete isn’t mentally tough but they don’t recognize it, there isn’t much you can do to change this fact. On the other hand, if this athlete knows they need more mental toughness there’s a simple message you can give them.
You. must. earn. mental. toughness. In addition, you can’t earn it overnight.
First, you earn mental toughness by starting with the things you do at home. When you don’t feel like doing chores, you do them anyway and don’t complain. When you’re bored, again you don’t complain. Instead of wasting time doing something mindless, you force yourself to do something productive.
Next, you earn mental toughness in how you attack academics. When you’re studying and get sleepy, you don’t quit. You keep studying until you learn what you need to learn. When you have a project, you don’t wait until the last minute. You start right away and finish with time to spare. When you get a homework assignment, you don’t just go through the motions. You do it right the first time, following all instructions and paying attention to the details.
Finally, you earn mental toughness with your behavior in practice. When your body or mind tires, you still give 100% effort. If you don’t feel like drilling the same technique over and over again, you do it anyway with 100% focus on the details. You push yourself to try to win every sprint, even if you’re the slowest person on the team. No matter how much the conditioning hurts your lungs, never complain, keep your emotions in check, and focus on giving your best effort. You approach practice with the mentality that the harder it is, the better it is and the more you will embrace the opportunity to earn your mental toughness.
In short, there is no easy way to become mentally tougher. There are no shortcuts. The only way to get mentally tougher is to be mentally tougher in the little things that matter each and every day.