Mental Toughness: Adding some Precision

Mental toughness (or self-discipline) is one of those fluid terms that people define in different ways. I tend to see it as encompassing at least the following aspects:

1. Equanimity or composure in the face of emotional upheavals.

2. Self-control or self-regulation to manage impulsiveness, procrastination, and instant gratification.

3. Meta-awareness and proper judgment of self and situations.

4. Flexibility in handling unexpected changes.

5. Resilience or grit to pursue goals, as well as persistence in commitments.

6. Growth-mindset that sees obstacles as opportunities for growth.

7. Life-affirmation, gratitude, and positive self-regard.

I am well aware that these concepts could be parsed in different ways, but most will be aware of the qualities of mind and heart that mental toughness refers to. Perhaps there are people in our lives that come close to embodying such characteristics. A reserved neighbor, an elderly relative, a fellow teammate, a close friend, a remarkable ultra-athlete, an inconspicuous church member—the paragons of self-mastery come in different shapes. My uncle confronting his terminal cancer with poise, courage, and positivity is not less of a model in that regard, for me anyway, than the uber-driven David Goggins.

Which brings me to an interesting challenge. How are we to assess the level of mental toughness in ourselves or others? Namely, it is easy to confuse such a quality of mind with playing tough, i.e., the projection of some artificial persona of strength. It is equally easy to minimize reservoirs of strength that we actually possess, short shrifting ourselves in the process

I was pleased, therefore, to read Christopher Bergland’s article “Mental Toughness Just Got Easier to Assess” who in turn reports on the research by Peter Clough. Clough is best known for developing the 4 C’s of mental toughness: Control, Commitment, Challenge, and Confidence. “Challenge refers to reframing potential threats as opportunities for growth and mastery; commitment reflects persistence in the pursuit of goals despite obstacles or setbacks; control includes emotion regulation and stress-coping mechanisms; having confidence is self-explanatory.” (I believe that my list above encompasses the 4 C’s in different wording.")

The MTQ-10 questionnaire developed by Clough and others aims to assess the 4 C’s through the following statements:

1. Even when under considerable pressure, I usually remain calm.

2. I tend to worry about things well before they actually happen.

3. I usually find it hard to summon enthusiasm for the tasks I have to do.

4. I generally cope well with any problems that occur.

5. I generally feel that I am a worthwhile person.

6. "I just don't know where to begin" is a feeling I usually have when presented with several things to do at once.

7. When I make mistakes, I usually let it worry me for days after.

8. I generally feel in control.

9. I am generally able to react quickly when something unexpected happens.

10. I generally look on the bright side of life.

Even without taking the actual questionnaire, I find these aspects to be an excellent starting point for self-reflection. One way to do so is to crack up your notebook and start reflecting on each of these points. The more precise you can be in recalling actual examples or occasions, the more fruitful the exercise is going to be.

Erich Fromm on Self-Discipline

I don’t know precisely when I encountered the writings of the psychoanalyst and social philosopher Erich Fromm (1900-1980). It must have been in my late teens or early twenties when they acquired a status of devotional literature of sorts for me. Two books, in particular, have left a mark on my thinking: To Have or To Be and The Art of Loving. One of the ideas I took from him is the importance of self-discipline for human self-realization. A self-evident thought, really, but one of immense significance for the practice of life. As he reminds us, we

shall never be good at anything if I do not do it in a disciplined way; anything I do only if “I am in the mood” may be a nice or amusing hobby, but I shall never become a master in that art. But the problem is not only that of discipline in the practice of the particular art (say practicing every day a certain amount of hours) but it is that of discipline in one’s whole life. One might think that nothing is easier to learn for modern man than discipline. Does he not spend eight hours a day in a most disciplined way at a job which is strictly routinized? The fact, however, is that modern man has exceedingly little self-discipline outside of the sphere of work. When he does not work, he wants to be lazy, to slouch or, to use a nicer word, to “relax.” This very wish for laziness is largely a reaction against the routinization of life. Just because man is forced for eight hours a day to spend his energy for purposes not his own, in ways not his own, but prescribed for him by the rhythm of the work, he rebels and his rebelliousness takes the form of an infantile self-indulgence. In addition, in the battle against authoritarianism he has become distrustful of all discipline, of that enforced by irrational authority, as well as of rational discipline imposed by himself. Without such discipline, however, life becomes shattered, chaotic, and lacks in concentration.

These words, written fifty-four years ago, have stood the test of time, and then some. In an age when focused attention and concentrated pursuits are hard to come by, when deliberate practice is often reserved for specialized endeavors such as sport or artistic competence, Fromm’s appeal takes on a prophetic tinge. For my life, anyway, littered as it is with its fair share of routine self-indulgences.