Steve Merkhofer

Sean McVay said, "Show me anybody that's great in anything they do, I'll show you somebody that's persevered, demonstrated that mental toughness to overcome some obstacles and adversity." Mentally tough people persevere. It requires a willingness to go beyond your current limits. • It means being resilient. • It means being adaptable. • It means being emotionally intelligent. 7 Strategies for Being Mentally Tougher: 1. Start with your Attitude and Habits - Your attitude and habits are a choice. Your attitude can turn a difficult situation into an opportunity and your habits can build action on those attitudes. Create a positive mindset and productive routines to lay the groundwork for resilience and growth. 2. From Now On, Problem = Opportunity - You can't always control what happens, but you can control how you handle challenges and setbacks. Reframe challenges and see problems as chances for growth and learning. This growth mindset reminds you that challenges are only challenges if you let them be. 3. Win The Self-Talk Battle - Your self-talk is either going to empower you or defeat you. Negative self-talk is common, but you have to eliminate it or reframe it if you want to succeed. By improving your self-talk, you give yourself support and become more resilient when those tough times appear. 4. Focus on What You Can Control - The most mentally tough people know that "you can control what you can control." There is nothing you can do about a failure or a painful moment because it's in the past. Channel your efforts and concentrate on aspects you can influence, enabling you to manage stress and maintain a sense of agency. 5. Train Hard, Compete Easy - Preparation puts you in position to succeed because you have done the work mentally and physically. When you practice your hardest, your natural instincts and creativity will take over when the time is needed. This allows you to act and not overthink. 6. Visualize and Strategize - When you visualize your future, you clear the mental clutter around your vision, clarify your meaning, and reflect. Visualization helps your strategize for where there might be future obstacles. This allows you to be prepare for challenges and obstacles before they happen. 7. Believe In Your Future - Positivity is a choice. Belief is a choice. When you view the world this way, you are promoting a positive attitude and a growth mindset. It matters because it brings strength, resilience, and hope during those tough times.