Mental Toughness Misconceptions

Mental Toughness Misconceptions

If you are an athlete, student, or have been in an achievement-based position before, you may have heard the term “mental toughness”. Usually reserved for those who display unwavering focus in the midst of a great challenge, the term can be misinterpreted as being void of emotions. However, this definition can lead to the belief that showing emotions is a sign of weakness. This is not the case, especially since being mentally tough is more about how we can respond in challenging situations. 

When we are mentally tough, we are able to acknowledge the emotions we are feeling, while also being able to recognize the effect that they may have, rather than being emotionless. This also means that toughness is characterized when we are able to view challenges as an opportunity to grow, rather than something that can affect our ability to perform. While this growth can happen alone, being vulnerable and reaching out to others for support is another way to garner mental toughness.

Mental Toughness v. Mental Resilience

Although quite similar, there are a few differences between mental toughness and mental resilience. Both mental toughness and resilience are focused on how we manage and cope during difficult situations. We can be mentally resilient, mentally tough, or both, and both are positive ways to help develop flexibility during these times.

Mental toughness is:

• The ability to take possible setbacks in stride 

• Viewing challenging moments as opportunities to learn about yourself, the idea of a “positive mindset”

• Based on the want to learn new ways to handle situations in the moment

Mental resilience is:

• The ability to recharge after difficult experiences

• Feeling like you need to “power through” challenges, more of a “neutral mindset”

• Based on the need to remain focused for a task

Mental toughness and resilience are much more than not letting ourselves become affected by difficult situations. Being able to gain insight into and learn from the experiences that challenge us, help to make us more prepared to handle them in the future. It can feel uncomfortable at first, especially if we've just experienced something difficult, but similar to exercise, growth can come from the discomfort. Learning more about ourselves can not only help us process different situations but can help us better understand the experiences of others.