The definition of mental toughness is elusive at best; it is known by many names and thought of in various ways, but it all comes down to the same meaning. It is that inner strength that resides somewhere in the depths of our minds, which takes over when the conscious and rational parts of our brain decides that we’ve had enough and it is time to let go of the reigns. Any will to go on is powered by that force, and once it sparks up it engulfs our entire being until we emerge triumphant. That strength, that force—that’s Mental Toughness.
In an effort to learn more about the mindset and the personality traits that are more common among the high achieving few, many great sports psychologists have conducted several detailed studies. I think that some of their findings and opinions describe the type of mental toughness that you will need if you decide to become a Navy SEAL.
One highly-regarded sports psychologist, Dr. Jim Loehr of the Human Performance Institute defined mental toughness as follows:
Mental toughness is the ability to consistently perform towards the upper range of your talent and skill regardless of competitive circumstances. It is all about improving your mind so that it’s always on your side; not sometimes helping you nor working against you as we all know it’s quite capable of doing.
In a research paper titled What Is This Thing Called Mental Toughness? An Investigation of Elite Sport Performers , authors Graham Jones, Sheldon Hanton and Declan Connaughton declared that mental toughness is:
Having the natural or developed psychological edge that enables you to: generally, cope better than your opponents with the many demands (competition, training, lifestyle) that sport places on a performer; specifically, be more consistent and better than your opponents in remaining determined, focused, confident, and in control under pressure.
Lieutenant Commander Eric Potterat, Ph.D., a Naval Special Warfare Command psychologist, quotes Hamlet on the subject: “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”
Dr. Potterat relates this study to sports and described the difference between winners and losers:
Physically, there’s very little difference between athletes who win Olympic gold and the rest of the field. It’s like the SEAL candidates we see here. Terrific hardware. Situps, pushups, running, swimming — off the charts, superhuman. But over at the Olympic center, the sports psychologists found that the difference between a medal and no medal is determined by an athlete’s mental ability. The elite athletes, the Tiger Woodses, the Kobe Bryants, the Michael Jordans — this is what separates them from the competition. Knowing how to use information.
Just about every Navy SEAL who made it through agrees that, ultimately, what determines whether you succeed or fail depends on whether you win the inner battle that rages and makes you question “How much do I really want this? ” This question will be one that will run through you mind several times if you decide to go through the Navy SEAL selection courses.
Mental Toughness for Navy SEALs
A Navy SEAL officer conducted interviews with several members of the various SOF units on the topic of mental toughness and how it results in successfully conducting missions and overcoming challenges.
One of the questions asked of the operators was their definition of the term mental toughness . The SEAL responses are listed below. Keep in mind that because of the nature of their profession, some of their comments refer to loss of life during battle.
While reading their comments, ask yourself which statements align with what you already believe about mental toughness and which are new; and how this information might apply to your outlook and philosophies regarding your goal of becoming mentally tougher, more resilient, and more self-confident.
Navy SEAL Responses on the Meaning of Mental Toughness:
Traits Specific to Mental Toughness
Motivation, confidence, focus, composure, and resilience were among the most common traits mentioned by the men who were interviewed. These qualities, as you can imagine, are necessary for any operator to be an effective member of a unit; it is mental toughness and a high degree of emotional control, along with incessant special training, that enables Navy SEALs to remain composed, confident, and focused in order to be able to cope with fear and anxiety during combat operations.
Motivation
“Mission accomplishment” is the motivator that keeps you moving toward its achievement. Visualizing reaching that finish line will propel you to focus on the steps needed to get there.
Ask yourself “Why do I want to be a Navy SEAL?” or “Why is it important that I achieve this goal?” Figuring out the answers to those questions, will enable you to better understand your motivations and desires, which can lead to an even greater desire to achieve your goal, and more clearly defined objectives.
Confidence
Confidence is the knowledge that you possess the skills necessary to confront obstacles and successfully maneuver past them. It also enables you to bounce back after setbacks, mistakes or poor performances.
Because of their training regiment, Navy SEALs typically have an unshakeable confidence in their abilities. The harshness and intensity of the BUD/S training course, as well as all the subsequent training throughout a Navy SEAL’s time as an operator, gives them confidence in their skills and “game plan,” and in their ability to execute the plan during stressful, high-pressure situations.
Developing any skill requires a great deal of practice. Confidence is gained through repeatedly putting yourself through difficult scenarios that force you to utilize your skills to conquer the objective. Knowing that you’ve put in the time required to train and study properly prior to any task is a great confidence builder that you will need in order to make it through the program.
Focus
The ability to home in on what’s most important at a given time and to be able to block out everything else, is a necessity for Navy SEALs to be able to carry out their missions.
This state of hyper-focus during the “Fog of War” that occurs during combat means focusing on what’s most important at a given moment to accomplish the mission. It is a trait that will be very valuable as you ready yourself to undertake any challenge.
Composure
Composure is your ability to remain calm and in control and able to continue to perform at optimum levels, regardless of the situation. It is important that you understand that the brain and mind are two separate things . Your body obeys the brain, but the brain obeys the mind! There are certain emotions and reactions that are being produced by your brain’s automatic responses to certain situations. Knowing these responses will occur enables you to cope with them by overriding your brain’s signals and allowing your mind to control your actions.
Composure enables SEALs to have clarity of thought and focus during the heat of battle, and it promotes sound decision-making when the tactical situation requires rapid adjustments to established battle plans and mission orders.
During the initial SEAL training, candidates will constantly be confronted with situations that require them to use their minds (mental toughness) to overcome what their brains are telling your bodies. Their brains will sense that they are too cold or hot, or too injured to possibly pass the next graded event, etc. The men who quit are those who lose focus and composure and succumb to the messages the brain is sending, Those able to use their minds to remain composed continue to focus on the task at hand and simply do the very best they can at that moment. They use their minds to reach deep within themselves and find the strength to hang on and keep moving forward.
You will surely encounter situations during your personal and professional life in which your brain will tell you that you simply cannot continue on. You must resolve to ensure that your mind remains in control and enables you to stay focused and moving forward until you have overcome whatever challenge is facing you at that moment.
Resilience
Simply put, resilience is your unwillingness to give up. The obstacles and challenges Navy SEALs face in combat are difficult at best. The situations and environments their missions entail are often brutal. Having the ability to face them, bounce back from setbacks, and go on to succeed is paramount for mission accomplishment.
In order to succeed in life and accomplish challenging goals, you have to be willing to push through hardships, pain, and self-doubt. You simply have to be willing to never give up!
Life-long Mental Toughness
Once you begin to develop mental toughness for the purpose of achieving a specific goal, such as becoming a better business leader, student, parent or perhaps becoming more physically fit, it is a skill that will grow and continue to positively influence and benefit you throughout all stages of your life regardless of the environment you are operating in.
Mental toughness will also aid anyone struggling through “personal battles”—health issues, difficult situations at work; dealing with family or personal relationship problems; coping with depression, drug addiction, alcoholism or obesity. These types of situations require a great amount of mental toughness in order to push past limitations, deal with the challenges facing you, and follow whatever steps are necessary to achieve your goals.
Essentially, mental toughness is a quality that is as critical to achieving your goals, assuming they are associated with a high-level of difficulty, stress and perhaps even various forms of risk. The most important thing to remember is that mental toughness can, in fact, be studied, developed, practiced and mastered!