The Benefits of Having Mental Toughness
Mental toughness is what separates the good from great.
With mental toughness, you always have a fighting chance.
Mental toughness gives you the confidence needed to keep pushing forward despite the competitive situation.
The key component of mental toughness is the ability to focus on the challenge right in front of you. You see, athletes that lack mental toughness have a misplaced focus.
Athletes that lack mental toughness suffer from two BIG problems:
- Frustration: Frustration over making mistakes, suffering losses or trailing in a competition. Frustration keeps an athlete’s mind stuck in the past, preventing them from seeing the opportunities in the present to turn the tide in their favor.
- Fear of Failure: Fear over bad outcomes or choking in critical moments in competition. Fear is future-based and, also, prevents you from focusing in the NOW or the things you need to do in the present in order to be successful.
So if you are looking to go from good to great, it is imperative that you work on your mental toughness.
There may be no greater and more mentally challenging situation like being down 3-0 in a best of seven series against a team that is favored to win the championship.
These are the exact circumstances that faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the NBA Championship.
The Cavaliers headed into the potential knockout game against the Golden State Warriors who steamrolled every team they had faced in their undefeated playoff run. The Warriors won the first three games of the series by an average of 15 points.
Many teams facing such an uphill battle might mentally give up in the next game but not the Cavaliers…
Cleveland came out in Game 4 attacking the basket from the opening whistle. Despite having their backs against the wall, the Cavaliers were laser-focused on Game 4 and played with a vengeance.
Not only did the Cavaliers put on a basketball clinic, they showed what mental toughness is all about… resiliency and attitude. The Cavaliers scored a record 49 points in the first quarter and went on to win 137-116, thus handing the Warriors their first loss of the 2017 playoffs.
Cavs Head coach, Tyronn Lue, talked about the mental toughness of the Cleveland squad.
LUE: “This is who we are. We’re a tough, resilient team. Guys were into it. We knew (the Warriors) were beatable, we knew we could play better, and this is the result you get when we’re at our best. You get down 3-0 and you’re fighting, you’ll do whatever it takes.”
Cavaliers veteran, Richard Jefferson, described mental toughness in this manner.
JEFFERSON: “We can beat them three times in a row. It’s going to be difficult. The chances might be 1 percent. But if a doctor told you you’re dying… and this treatment would give you a 1 percent chance, would you take it?”
Mental toughness gives you a chance and, in sports, anything can happen if given the chance.
Try this tip to improve your mental toughness:
Get your head in the game. Let go of mistakes quickly. That is to say, focus on the present. The past is over and no amount of regret or frustration will change it.
Tell yourself, “Anything can happen,” and look for ways to elevate your game. Stay focused on that game strategy through the game.
All you need is a chance if you stay mentally tough!
Start improving your mental toughness with The Focused Athlete audio and workbook program…
Related Sports Psychology Articles
- Mental Toughness as an Underdog
- Mental Toughness Tips for Athletes
- The Importance of Mental Toughness
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The Focused Athlete
It’s probably no secret that you have many opportunities to become distracted in sports. Athletes are bombarded with both internal and external distractions everyday in practice and competition. Focused athletes are able to get the most from their skills because they are more efficient with practice and more concentrated in competition. Athletes who lack focus let distractions run wild through their mind and don’t know how to adjust or refocus.
The Focused Athlete was developed for any level coach, parent, or junior to professional athlete who wants to improve performance and gain a competitive edge. It does not matter if you are a fledgling junior athlete; or a seasoned professional, plagued with distractions; or you just wanting to learn how to improve concentration…
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