Mental toughness is the inner requirement for strength of character and is attained through the power of discipline. Character brings to the man who has it, admiration and respect from others and satisfaction and growth within himself; whereas lack of character incites only self-pity if not active dislike. Elbert Hubbard wrote: “Character is the result of two things: Mental attitude (mental toughness) and the way we spend our time,” while Geikie on a more spiritual level defines “our character” as the stamp on our souls of the free choices of good and evil we have made through our life.” But the choice itself requires mental toughness.
Mental toughness gives us the strength to resist physical ease and comfort for spiritual or integral satisfaction. Growing up, maturing, whether it comes at fifteen or fifty, is often painful because it involves changes we are not prepared to make. It’s difficult to convince ourselves that nothing can bring peace and satisfaction but the triumph of principle. It takes time and experience to learn that if you don’t expect and ask a man to live up to his potential, you cheat him; and the same rule applies to one’s self.
The price of success is hard work, and mental toughness is an essential component of hard work. It entails and embodies sacrifice and self-denial, a perfectly disciplined will, and analysis of what must be done and the conviction that anything less than 100 percent effort is not good enough.
How does one build mental toughness? First totally commit yourself to 100 percent effort; then analyze what must be done to obtain the result you desire and what you must do yourself to get that result. Does it require sacrifice and discipline? These will be your guideline until the desired result is obtained. Take your list of sacrifices and disciplines and apply 100 percent effort in living up to them. No matter what may happen you will not deviate from the course you have set for yourself. Follow this procedure for one month. The result: a personal achievement, a strengthening of character and an increase in mental toughness.
Remember the caution of Emerson: “Good thoughts are no better than good dreams unless they be executed.”
– Donna J. Bowen, Atlantic Ray, Bethesda, MD., November 1969
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Loyal fan of Elbert Hubbard here.
Enjoyed this article and you’ve got a great blog!