{"id":8037,"date":"2017-03-02T18:54:51","date_gmt":"2017-03-02T18:54:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/?p=8037"},"modified":"2025-06-10T03:23:46","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T07:23:46","slug":"does-adversity-improve-mental-toughness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/does-adversity-improve-mental-toughness\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Adversity Improve Mental Toughness?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8041\" src=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/adversity2.jpg\" alt=\"Adverstiy in Sports\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/adversity2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/adversity2-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Mentally_Tough_Athletes_Deal_With_Adversity\"><\/span>How Mentally Tough Athletes Deal With Adversity<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Article Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0769bf;color:#0769bf\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0769bf;color:#0769bf\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/does-adversity-improve-mental-toughness\/#How_Mentally_Tough_Athletes_Deal_With_Adversity\" >How Mentally Tough Athletes Deal With Adversity<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/does-adversity-improve-mental-toughness\/#Does_adversity_really_make_you_mentally_stronger\" >Does adversity really make you mentally stronger?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/does-adversity-improve-mental-toughness\/#Two_Ways_For_Developing_Mental_Toughness\" >Two Ways For Developing Mental Toughness<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/does-adversity-improve-mental-toughness\/#Related_Sports_Psychology_Articles\" >Related Sports Psychology Articles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/does-adversity-improve-mental-toughness\/#The_Focused_Athlete\" >The Focused Athlete<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Is your <strong>mental toughness<\/strong> challenged when you have to perform under adverse circumstances?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to perform your best, you&#8217;ll need to learn how to anticipate and <strong>cope with challenges.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Coping means having a way to respond to adversity so you can perform with a level head.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sports has its ups and downs and there is nothing you can do to prevent occasional unforeseen circumstances, but you can control how you respond to those situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, the story of Melvin Upton is one of great <strong>success<\/strong> but also tremendous <strong>adversity.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Upton is an outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Upton was a tremendous prospect in high school with all the tools, including his ability to hit with power.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Upton was drafted second overall as a shortstop in the 2002 Major League Baseball draft by Tampa Bay Rays.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Upton was ranked as the #21 prospect in baseball even though he led the minor leagues with 56 errors.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>In 2004, Upton made his major league debut becoming the youngest Ray ever and the youngest player in the major leagues that season.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Early in his career, Upton bounced around from position to position playing shortstop, third base, and outfield. Though Upton continued to produce with his bat and prove to be a dangerous base stealer, he was still plagued by errors&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Toward the end of his tenure with the Rays, Upton was disciplined several times for his lack of effort and failure to run down ground-balls.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>In 2013, Upton signed a big free agent contract with the Atlanta Braves and his offensive output suffered over the next three years.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Upton changed teams two more times, continued to struggle with his bat and was riddled with a nagging foot injury&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no doubt that the adversity bug has hit Upton hard, affecting his performance on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, with the 2017 season approaching, Upton is battling to beat out two other players for the starting left fielder role on the Blue Jays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upton believes his struggles in recent years have help him be <strong>&#8220;mentally tougher&#8221;<\/strong> and <strong>prepared mentally<\/strong> to win the starting job in left field for Toronto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>UPTON:<\/strong> <em>&#8220;Having some pretty good highs and feeling the lowest of lows kind of put things into perspective and has [helped me] stay even keel. It makes you continue to work and makes you mentally stronger.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_adversity_really_make_you_mentally_stronger\"><\/span>Does adversity really make you mentally stronger?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If that was the case every single athlete that was benched, suffered an injury, slumped, was cut from a team, choked under pressure or under-performed would grow from adversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Actually, the reverse is often true&#8230; <strong>Adversity,<\/strong> many times, causes athletes to give in or give up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One part of <strong>mental toughness<\/strong>&#8211;how you react to <strong>adversity<\/strong>&#8211;causes you to continue to work hard, which leads to two benefits: (1) better performance and (2) more <strong>mental toughness.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mental toughness is the ability to focus forward on your goals, stay positive and find a way to overcome.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best thing about <strong>mental toughness<\/strong> is that it is available to every athlete, if you are willing to work for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you want to improve your <strong>mental strength<\/strong> and cope better with adversity when is strikes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Two_Ways_For_Developing_Mental_Toughness\"><\/span>Two Ways For Developing Mental Toughness<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>1. Turn, &#8220;Oh no,&#8221; into, &#8220;What now?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So <strong>adversity<\/strong> has hit&#8230; So what?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feeling bad about those rough times will not help you rebound <strong>successfully.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of lamenting over the past, ask yourself, <em>&#8220;What can I do now that will get me back on track and improve my game?&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2. Anticipate challenges you might face in your sport&#8211;from being benched to going into a slump to losing a tight match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How will you respond to these challenges? When you prepare yourself <strong>mentally<\/strong> to deal with challenges, you have alternative options for responding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, how would you respond to a unfair call from an referee during competition? Do you know how to stay composed and not let it rattle you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/the-focused-athlete-cd-program\/\">Start improving your mental toughness with The Focused Athlete Audio and Workbook program.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-979ef383-5bc7-43ee-b8f9-249663ca1a6c\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Sports_Psychology_Articles\"><\/span>Related Sports Psychology Articles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul id=\"block-05642731-8752-4dbf-9c18-5cc4d276e821\" class=\"wp-block-list has-normal-font-size\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-refocus-after-making-mistakes\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/managing-your-emotions-when-adversity-hits\/\"><strong>Managing Your Emotions When Adversity Hits<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/refocus-quickly-when-distracted\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-mentally-prepare-for-adversity\/\"><strong>How to Mentally Prepare for Adversity<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-prevent-mental-mistakes-during-competition\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/dont-let-adversity-affect-your-game-in-sports\/\"><strong>Don\u2019t Let Adversity Affect Your Game in Sports<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\" id=\"block-5726d13f-f715-4ca4-8813-2f8a9ebd8bc3\">*Subscribe to<strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/sports-psychology-podcast-by-peaksports-com\/id152566009\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0on iTunes<br>*Subscribe to <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0ynyaalKxbnNmsoeL8gF5X?si=8224669de9b3435b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/strong><\/a> on Spotify<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\" id=\"block-281f5afb-980b-4c71-9aa0-11d606b5f7c9\"><strong>Download a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/mental-toughness-report-athletes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free sports psychology report<\/a>&nbsp;to improve your mental game!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\" id=\"block-94138e75-d591-4645-bb1d-212cf57a8841\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sport-psychology-training-athletes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more about our one-on-one mental game coaching.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Focused_Athlete\"><\/span>The Focused Athlete <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/focused-athlete-teams-small.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3922\" style=\"width:215px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s probably no secret that you have many opportunities<strong> to become distracted<\/strong> in sports. Athletes are bombarded with both internal and external distractions everyday in practice and competition. <strong>Focused athletes<\/strong> 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 <strong>let distractions run wild through their mind and don\u2019t know how to adjust or refocus.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Focused Athlete\u201d is a complete system to teach you how to focus like a champion and harness the power of a zone focus every time you step on the playing field, court, track, or course in practice and games!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-769fef19\">\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-68fab510 gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/the-focused-athlete-cd-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">GET DETAILS<\/a>\n\n\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-3043572a gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.peaksports.com\/collections\/the-confident-athlete-series-digital-download\/products\/the-focused-athlete-digital\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">BUY NOW<\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How Mentally Tough Athletes Deal With Adversity Is your mental toughness challenged when you have to perform under adverse circumstances? If you want to perform your best, you&#8217;ll need to learn how to anticipate and cope with challenges. Coping means having a way to respond to adversity so you can perform with a level head. Sports has its &#8230; <a title=\"Does Adversity Improve Mental Toughness?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/does-adversity-improve-mental-toughness\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Does Adversity Improve Mental Toughness?\">Sport Psychology Article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8042,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[142],"tags":[281,247],"class_list":["post-8037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports-psychology-tips","tag-adversity-in-sports","tag-mental-toughness-in-sports"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 4.9.6.1 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Does adversity really make you mentally stronger? 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