How Men Can Build Mental Toughness in a Soft World

Most modern men no longer face the physical challenges they once did to survive, but they still need to build mental toughness.

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Since we aren’t challenged constantly by our environment … we are in a position where we have all the resources to challenge ourselves so that we aren’t fragile when circumstances may not be in our favor.

The world has made it extremely easy on us. We don’t have to be tough to survive, we can be fragile and still cope with life. This is both amazing and a tragedy. Since we aren’t challenged constantly by our environment (most of us don’t face hungry tigers and we don’t have to worry about shelter or hunting down our next meal) we are in a position where we have all the resources to challenge ourselves so that we aren’t fragile when circumstances may not be in our favor. Here are ways you can develop that mental toughness.

Cold Showers

How often can you make yourself uncomfortable? Even if it’s with seemingly small and unnoticeable things. Great achievements often require you to dive deep outside your comfort zone but if you can’t even spend 30 seconds with cold water on your back, then how do you expect to take on life’s big challenges which will be worse than a little cold water in your shower? With this practice you will be training your mind to see discomfort as a baseline in your life, rather than a rare occurrence that happens only now and then.

Martial Arts

Many CEO’s and high achievers in our society have a history of military background or some sort of experience in martial arts. Could this be a coincidence or could it be that the focus and discipline required for such activities build a man to attack his goals with unwavering laser like focus untouched by the distractions that we face even more so today?

Deadlifts

I both hate and love deadlifts. They require so much energy and intensity that by the end you’re wiped clean and left on the floor with trembling legs and a thirst for the nearest drink of water. It’s those activities that break us down that have the potential to build us up. In this case, it’s quite literal. With every heavy rep, you tear more muscle fibers that then need to be rebuilt by your body. When you train with such high intensity you are left calm, collected, and not easily reactive to your environment. This is a skill that can prove itself to be useful especially during trying times.

Public Speaking

The number 1 fear people have, according to a poll, is the fear of public speaking. Not death, but public speaking. Which means people feel that they would rather die than go on a stage and express themselves. Although it’s frightening and the thought of being heckled off stage is terrifying, this doesn’t discredit the benefit that public speaking provide for us. Public speaking desensitizes your fear of rejection. It’s a fear that we must overcome if we wish to get what we want in life because rejection is just a part of the game. The more you immerse yourself and get rejected, the less it affects you.

Challenge yourself or life will challenge you. It’s all relative. The same inconvenient situation can happen to two people but one person will be able handle the chaos and the other will be lost in the storm of it all. Decide who you want to be.

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