Week 2: Mental Toughness

As the days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years we all find ourselves in a constant state of evolution and hopefully growth for the better. Most days I rise early, find myself going about my business and contemplating things in life that I have typically pondered before. One thing that I humbly accept as part of my life is that I am in a position where people ask for my ‘advice’. This isn’t a position in life that I take lightly. I truly always want to help better people’s paths, ease their burdens, and hopefully somewhere in the crossroads there is something from my experience that they can learn from and assist them in their journey.
A particular subject comes to me more frequently than others for whatever reason, whether it be destiny or just plain old common sense, I often find myself pondering purpose, passion and reason…or better known as a ‘why’. My why has served me throughout my life and continues to be the reason I strive to be a better father, husband, brother, and friend. It is my why that has propelled me forward when nothing else held the power to do so; which is the reason I want to help you find your hearts desire or your why. I have had people seek advice around a “why” and I want to share some thoughts that have been bouncing around in my head. As I continue to grow I hope that I can help you navigate finding your why, so that it becomes such a force nothing can stop you from achieving your goals. It’s easy to say things like, “write it down”, “place it in spots that are constant reminders”, and these things are valuable, but I want your why to be something so big that it becomes a feeling within you, that it defines you.
Your why should be worth fighting for and allow you to have fearlessness to explore new territory. Envision yourself on the most amazing destination family vacation then times it by one hundred, fuel your why with a monsoon of visualization. Let your why be powerful enough that it allows you to help others feel safe, that you literally remove fear from their life and let your why shine through helping to light their way. Let your why be even bigger than a dream, and have fun doing it. The power of your why should fill you with joy. And remember everyone is watching you so let them see you filled with a sense of purpose that exposes your intellectual muscle that is building the brand that you are selling the world. Consider that your why should be able to overpower any insecurities that might be holding you back. Those people that you feel like are judging you really shouldn’t matter, don’t forget that no one is thinking about your insecurities as much as you are, and if they should be thinking about your insecurities—their thoughts are really none of your business. Really ponder your why and plant it in fertile soil where it will continue to grow, develop and drive you.
This little exercise for continuing to fight for your why is what I continue to do to this day. It may evolve and experience some periods of metamorphosis, but it still compels me to move forward in the world doing my best to do good; and that is exactly what I want for you. A purpose and reason so strong that nothing can rob you of your why. For most of you a why is maybe something you have always known, for many of you it might be something you are working on. No matter where you are at in the evolution of your why don’t stop short of letting it propel you forward, with gratitude in your heart and a good reason why it is there. This debt-free, stay-at-home dad has come a long way on this journey to let you know that your WHY is worth it, hold it tightly in your grasp and near your heart
Being one of only two players to win 5 super bowls makes Tom Brady a really special football quarterback. As if that feat was not great, Brady set the record of being the only quarterback who won 5 Super Bowls playing for the same team. However, that is only the beginning of what puts him in a league of his own.
He has 4 Super Bowl MVP awards (the most), has been into a dozen Pro Bowls, has 2 league MPV awards to his name, and has seen his team win more division titles as a quarterback than anyone else.
Tom Brady is easily in the list of the greatest athletes in the sport. He has been an inspiring figure to tens of millions. These quotes from this legend will not only help inspire you, but they can also provide you an insight into the stuff that makes him so great!
“You can’t go out and practice average on Wednesday, average on Thursday, okay on Friday and then expect to play well on Sunday.”
“A lot of times I find that people who are blessed with the most talent don’t ever develop that attitude, and the ones who aren’t blessed in that way are the most competitive and have the biggest heart.”
“I think sometimes in life the biggest challenges end up being the best things that happen in your life.”
“You wanna know which ring is my favorite? The next one.”
My personal favorite quote from Tom Brady is the following:
“You Push your body to the limits, but you have to train your body to deal with the limits.”
When you look back on your life and consider all of the opportunities that have come your way, you may feel a sense of regret at a chance passed by, or you may feel a deep sense of gratitude for being in the right place at the right time. We often hear that term, “right place, right time”, “he’s always lucky.” There are times that can be considered luck, but as with most things in life, it’s because you were prepared.
Being prepared is a culmination of mindset and work ethic. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, mindset is “a person’s way of thinking and their opinions” and work ethic is “the belief that work is valuable as an activity and is morally good.”
As I’ve been on my journey, I’ve learned that opportunities are only visible when you’re looking for them and your success is dependent upon your level of maturity. My journey has been based on my ability to put aside what others say I should do and think and realize that I have to be able to change. Change that is for the betterment of myself, my family and the situation that I’m in and don’t like. This is where the “mindset” comes into play. I choose on a daily basis what my mindset and attitude will be, whether that is positive or negative. I also choose every day to work on my mind and strengthen my skill set. I do this through the books I read or listen to. I strengthen my skill set by self-evaluation, correction and practice.
Each opportunity that you’re presented with should be considered a building block of preparation for future opportunities. Have an open mind to see what’s available to you that will help you stretch and grow into a better person, which bleeds over into all other aspects of your life and relationships.
Work ethic, something I pride myself on, taught at an early age and no one can take away. I’ve made my share of mistakes, missed on opportunities that I either wasn’t ready for or couldn’t see the long-term benefits, but it wasn’t because I was out worked. There is truth to working smarter not harder, as far as understanding what and when to delegate. But when it’s time for me to work, it’s time to work. Understanding what your goal is, having a plan to get there is critical. However, the only way to make it happen, is to work when it’s hard, when you’re tired and others have stopped. No one can make your dreams and goals happen but you. Do you have what it takes? Numbers don’t lie and neither does your work ethic.
I encourage you to keep your eyes open and your hands working. I can promise you this, IT IS WORTH IT!
As we all know life is full of stressors, from starting a new job, losing a job, getting married, moving, financial obligations, etc. etc. Don’t get me wrong, a little bit of stress can be okay and can even help us perform better. However, many of us tend to deal with an unhealthy level of stress. What many people don’t realize is how effective exercise can be in helping decrease our stress levels.
What happens when we get stressed is our brain releases the natural-occurring chemical, cortisol. What “fights” the cortisol, if you will, are endorphins. Right now, you are probably wondering, “How does knowing this help me?” Well, it is because when we exercise endorphins are released into our brain, thus reducing stress levels, anxiety, tension, and even depression. If you have ever been stressed to the max and decided to go on a heart-pumping run, you probably know what I mean.
Long-term effects of the primary stress hormone, cortisol, will eventually take a toll on your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, heart rate, heart, immune system, digestive system, and the list goes on. For centuries though, yogis and others have understood how proper breathing and physical activity can decrease our cortisol levels and create a calm for ourselves.
So next time you’re stressed, instead of picking up a bad habit such as binge eating, binging on TV, sleeping too much or too little, or binge drinking, pick up your favorite physical activity and let your body do the work and recalibrate naturally! If you’re going to be stressed you might as well get fit!