What can we learn from the world’s best extreme athletes about how to endure the most grueling tests and thrive in the pandemic?
When was the last time you faced a difficult test or challenge — mental or physical? How did you handle the situation? When you hit an obstacle or a limit, were you able to push through and persevere despite the pain, exhaustion or self-doubt? Or, did you reach your last straw and give up and give in?
Do you think mental toughness is something you are born with or a mind-set and set of habits you can develop, like your muscles? Do you think we can all learn how to not only endure, but thrive in our daily challenges? Can you recall a time when you demonstrated mental toughness in the face of a grueling test or challenge? Describe your experience: What was the situation? What strategies did you use to conquer your pain, exhaustion or doubt? What advice do you have for others who are facing similar adversity?
What role does mental toughness play in your life? Does it affect your life in and out of school? Do you agree that mental strength is needed during the pandemic more than ever? Why or why not? What do you think of the athletes’ message: “You are stronger than you think you are, and everyone is able to adapt in ways they didn’t think possible.” Do you think this is true? Which of the athletes’ experiences and life lessons resonated most for you? Why?
Which techniques recommended in the article, like setting micro-goals or learning to pace yourself, do you find most useful? Do you think you could learn to “embrace discomfort”? How might you apply this advice in your daily life?
Bottom line? “Optimism is an antidote to anxiety,” Dr. Gervais said. Does the article give you optimism — to get through the pandemic and to find ways to grow in mental toughness? How did you build mental toughness? How mentally tough do you think you are and how have you ended up this way? For men that have always been "mentally tough", how do you deal when that starts to break down?
I've been someone that's always regarded as mentally tough, able to weather the storm, and very even keel through life.
But, now I'm not. It's bad enough to start having mental health issues, but when it starts to break down part of your self identity, if feels even worse. I'm starting to see a counselor this week, but I'm not sure what to even do at this point. What is true mental toughness?
Is mental toughness overcoming and living above your own demons? or is mental toughness not letting those demons get to you in the first place? I'm curious, I've dealt with a lot of self-doubt and confidence issues and still do to this day, so does that make me mentally weak? am I mentally weak because I'm a guy who's more on the quiet side and is sensitive? I like to think I'm not, I try and go with the flow of things surrounded by the people I love, and will only back out of something if I feel it's stupid or a waste of time, I work hard, and yeah people get to me at times but I learned it's better to not deal with those people, but would I be more mentally tough if I started being more aggressive back to them? I'm probably overthinking but I'd like to hear more what random strangers on the internet think. Thanks! Mental strength - how tough are you?
It seems curious that people don't talk about psychology in the context of running.
When I was training for performance I've struggled with the mental strength most of the time.
To name a few of the problems I've encountered:
that moment during a race or workout when you simply can't keep the pace anymore and you take it slower. Or quit. Many times is just an anxiety and the body can hold the effort.
the fear that I won't give everything I can in the race.
the fear that I'll throw up at the end of the race.
the guilt of missing a workout because of laziness. I bet that everyone has a mental struggle. So what's yours? How far did you go with the psychological efforts? Did you threw up, had nightmares, or you've trembled for a particular reason?
Do you think mental toughness is something you are born with or a mind-set and set of habits you can develop, like your muscles? Do you think we can all learn how to not only endure, but thrive in our daily challenges? Can you recall a time when you demonstrated mental toughness in the face of a grueling test or challenge? Describe your experience: What was the situation? What strategies did you use to conquer your pain, exhaustion or doubt? What advice do you have for others who are facing similar adversity?
What role does mental toughness play in your life? Does it affect your life in and out of school? Do you agree that mental strength is needed during the pandemic more than ever? Why or why not? What do you think of the athletes’ message: “You are stronger than you think you are, and everyone is able to adapt in ways they didn’t think possible.” Do you think this is true? Which of the athletes’ experiences and life lessons resonated most for you? Why?
Which techniques recommended in the article, like setting micro-goals or learning to pace yourself, do you find most useful? Do you think you could learn to “embrace discomfort”? How might you apply this advice in your daily life?
Bottom line? “Optimism is an antidote to anxiety,” Dr. Gervais said. Does the article give you optimism — to get through the pandemic and to find ways to grow in mental toughness? How did you build mental toughness? How mentally tough do you think you are and how have you ended up this way? For men that have always been "mentally tough", how do you deal when that starts to break down?
I've been someone that's always regarded as mentally tough, able to weather the storm, and very even keel through life.
But, now I'm not. It's bad enough to start having mental health issues, but when it starts to break down part of your self identity, if feels even worse. I'm starting to see a counselor this week, but I'm not sure what to even do at this point. What is true mental toughness?
Is mental toughness overcoming and living above your own demons? or is mental toughness not letting those demons get to you in the first place? I'm curious, I've dealt with a lot of self-doubt and confidence issues and still do to this day, so does that make me mentally weak? am I mentally weak because I'm a guy who's more on the quiet side and is sensitive? I like to think I'm not, I try and go with the flow of things surrounded by the people I love, and will only back out of something if I feel it's stupid or a waste of time, I work hard, and yeah people get to me at times but I learned it's better to not deal with those people, but would I be more mentally tough if I started being more aggressive back to them? I'm probably overthinking but I'd like to hear more what random strangers on the internet think. Thanks! Mental strength - how tough are you?
It seems curious that people don't talk about psychology in the context of running.
When I was training for performance I've struggled with the mental strength most of the time.
To name a few of the problems I've encountered:
that moment during a race or workout when you simply can't keep the pace anymore and you take it slower. Or quit. Many times is just an anxiety and the body can hold the effort.
the fear that I won't give everything I can in the race.
the fear that I'll throw up at the end of the race.
the guilt of missing a workout because of laziness. I bet that everyone has a mental struggle. So what's yours? How far did you go with the psychological efforts? Did you threw up, had nightmares, or you've trembled for a particular reason?
