HOLISTIC - Physical training for mental toughness

by Jamie Milne

What is mental toughness and how do we train it…?

Mental toughness means no matter what happens you can’t be thrown off your game. It’s essentially one’s ability to remain focused. That’s it. And if you’re distracted, how quickly can you get back to the task at hand.

This is what the mentally tough people do, they remain focussed much much longer than those who cannot.

I witnessed this first hand on both the Navy Clearance divers course, and Special Air Service SAS selection course.

So, whether you’re trying to be a better athlete, a better business person, a better parent, whatever it is, developing mental toughness will help you to be better.

To be clear, your ability to tolerate pain does not equal mental toughness.

There’s a difference between being able to tolerate, push through or withstand physical pain; this is not mental toughness. 

You can tolerate pain but still complain about it – this is not mental toughness. 

Mental toughness is holding it together when others fall apart, remaining calm and focussed  in your mind and your attitude when faced with adversity and hardships.

Mental toughness is how focussed you are under pressure, and this is easily trained, nurtured and facilitated in the physical environment, such as facilities like JMT (Jamiemilnetraining.com).