Manufacture Your Day by BECOMING MENTALLY FIT

Have you ever noticed that life can be a real roller coaster ride?

No kidding, right?

I don’t know about you, but I constantly have to keep my anxious thoughts in check. Nothing in life is certain, and the better we become at tolerating uncertainty, the more enjoyable our life experience will be.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve tried to be a good role model when it comes to physical fitness. I consistently challenge myself by doing things I initially believe I can’t do. This mindset has made me physically stronger, but even more so, it has strengthened me mentally.

That said, the topic of mental fitness became especially relevant when I started training for my Ironman triathlon (3.8 km swim, 180 km bike, 42.2 km run) twelve years ago. This year, when I completed my first 50-mile ultramarathon, it became deeply relevant once again.

It keeps teaching me an important lesson: the mind gives up a thousand times before the body does. The mental preparation for these races was just as important as the physical training.

When we listen to our self-talk without a strategy in place, it can be detrimental. “I can’t. I’m tired. I give up. It won’t work.” But if you stop listening to that inner voice and just keep going, you’ll be amazed by how far you can actually go.

So why don’t we use this same “mental strength strategy” as a growth strategy in business?

It’s all about staying in control of our mental and emotional responses. It’s powerful stuff. It takes practice, but it truly works.

Here’s my advice on how to tolerate uncertainty by developing mental strength — in both your personal and professional life:

• Ditch the “coulds,” “shoulds,” and “woulds.”
  Replace them with “can,” “will,” and “do.”

  Find positive language patterns that empower you.
  When fearful thoughts creep in, reframe them into something constructive. For example, I say:

  • “I’m not rejected, I’m redirected.”

  • “Everything will work out in my/our best interest.”

  • “It may not look great right now, but this is just another roadblock to overcome.”

  • “I can learn a lot by conquering this challenge.”

  • “I haven’t mastered it yet, but I will.”

  Change the meaning you give to a situation.
  If uncertainty means discomfort to you, shift the meaning. For me, uncertainty is the spice of life, full of surprises and unexpected happy endings.

Do you notice the difference in the wording?
It’s all about developing mental fitness in order to achieve organizational fitness. Trust the process!

Are you with me on that?

Food for Thought: 

Do you feel that there are times when you give up too easily? How do you develop mental strength in your personal and professional life?

Please read this article:

15 Power Exercises to Improve Your Mental Strength

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