Mental Toughness: The One Thing You Must Know

In moments of crisis, there is always danger and opportunity. It might be an economic downturn that has created a climate of fear,  or a pressure-filled season where you have got to perform.

In either case, there are people achieving extraordinary success because of the adversity and pressure. How do some people thrive in tough times, when most people struggle?

What I’ve found in my coaching and research of the world’s best performers, is that the biggest obstacle we face is not a lack of talent or resources, or even the situation we’re in. It’s our mind attached to the past that limits us the most.

We set goals and pursue them valiantly, but setbacks arise and doubts come. Most of us have never been taught how to handle the endless stream of thoughts racing through our heads, the whispering voice of doubt, and the emotional ups and downs that life brings.

Do any of these ring true for you?

• You have talents and skills but your intense desire to succeed often leads to tension or anxiety.
• Your mind has a tendency to overanalyze things.
• You’re really hard on yourself when you fail.
• Negative thoughts clutter your mind.
• You feel more restricted than free.

These obstacles do not describe individuals who settle for a life of mediocrity, but rather some of the best performers (athletes, surgeons, Navy Seals, et al) and business people in the world. If any of these describe you, you’re in good company.

The Quest for Fearlessness

On July 15, 2007 Lewis Gordon Pugh attempted to swim one kilometer at the geographic north pole to raise awareness about global warning (that's him diving off the iceberg above--he's featured in Chapter 3 in the book Inner Excellence). Scientists told him it was impossible--that he might die trying. Fear gripped him.

Fear is something we all experience, in fact it's the biggest obstacle we'll ever encounter. But fear is only a symptom of the root cause. Join me as we learn to face our fears just like Pugh did. You may or may not be a world-class athlete; you may have, however, just as much fear or pressure with whatever you’re facing. In either case, the opportunity to be extraordinary awaits you.

My purpose is to empower you to achieve greatly and live fully. That is, to help you do what you were put on this earth to do, and live a meaningful, fulfilling life. This includes helping you gain the freedom to not only achieve your goals and dreams but to live with passion, purpose and poise.

Inner Excellence is the inner peace and confidence that comes from leading with your heart, expanding your vision, and learning to be fully engaged in the moment. It's a mindset of empowering beliefs, continuous improvement and personal growth. With the weekly blogs, interviews, and articles on this website, you’ll find tools and ideas that will teach you how to break free from what's holding you back and inspire you to be your best self: mind, body and spirit.

You’ll learn how to:

• Perform with passion and freedom regardless of the pressure or possible outcome.
• Get out of your own way and overcome the blocks that slow your progress. 
• Develop the mental toughness to face every fear and doubt.
• Get into a flow state, one with a heightened awareness, no self-consciousness, and full engagement. 
• Live a meaningful life, one with passion, purpose, and poise. 

You’ll get the tools to reach that state of resonance (some call it flow) where you are your best, no matter what you do for a living. It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional athlete or not an athlete at all. Today you have the opportunity to live more courageously, to open up to a world of amazing experiences and incredible personal growth.

A New Mindset

Whatever your goal is, you can go after it with all your heart, if you learn to focus your energy in a way that empowers you. Now is the time.

To do this is to learn to how to direct the one thing that matters most: your thoughts.

How you routinely think creates a mindset of how you see the world, and it’s this mindset that empowers your dreams or fuels your fears. This website, and my coaching, is here to help you connect with the mindset that the greatest have developed, one that changes lives and transforms performance.

The best performers in the world all have coaches. The best coaches all have mentors. How about you? The one thing you must know is that your current situation, and whatever adversity you face, may be tailor-made for you, sent to lead you to a powerful life.

Click on start here and take the first step today to becoming your best, if not the best. Amazing awaits you.

Wishing you a life of excellence,

Jim