A substantial amount of evidence states that it is not intelligence or talent but mental toughness that makes a more significant impact in the lives of people. Mental strength plays an important role to achieve success; be it a sportsman or a scientist. It is mental strength and toughness that drive soldiers in extreme climatic conditions. In every aspect of life from education to work to health, it is vital that we have the grit, the sharp mind, perseverance, and passion for outsmarting peers and achieving success.
Mental strength is that thin line of demarcation between good and great irrespective of the talent of an individual. Mentally tough individuals are way more consistent than their peers be it academics, sports, or profession. The choices we make, and physical actions we perform, determine our mental fortitude.
Games are an excellent way of building mental strength. A single simple exercise such as skipping for 100 times or a run of 100 m every day is incredibly useful for developing mental strength. Adding a commitment to games helps inculcate focus, which makes us mentally tougher. Mental toughness is a matter of consistency.
Simple exercises performed consistently help build mental strength, manage emotions, and train the brain to act positively. Mental toughness is built gradually by working day in and day out, pushing hard in thousands of small ways just as we exercise to train the muscles of our body.
Games and sports develop a strong groundwork for strengthening mental muscle. Games allow us to fail, and each time we fail; we put in more effort to succeed. They have a lesson that, failing is a part of the learning process. Researchers have shown that failure is an essential component for building self-esteem and confidence, which instills courage and eradicates the fear of failure. Effort is the key to mental toughness.
Physical activities like hanging from monkey bars are challenging; as it takes a good mental muscle to hang on.
Mental toughness is an abstract trait but determines our personality. It forms a connect between all the actions we perform. One can’t magically become tough in a single day; it takes a consistent effort day after day. Exercise or physical activity is not limited to being physically fit but has a significant role in building mental strength.
