How I build mental toughness

Varun Raghunathan
Aug 23, 2017 · 2 min read

Life is a marathon, We are going to have to constantly push ourselves - growth comes outside the comfort zone. To handle failures and rejections, to put them behind and go forward. To persevere in the face of adversity one requires mental toughness.

I workout a lot and recently to check my endurance and build mental toughness I decided to double the usual number of counts I perform for each exercise.

I must admit it was hard at first. I kept pushing exercise after exercise and surprisingly I did finish my routine.

I did the same with running. I usually run one stretch and while returning I walk but this time I decided to run both the times. I almost fainted!

But I did it.

Only later I figured this is the same strategy used by navy seals to build mental toughness. It’s called the 40% rule.

When you think you are done, you are actually only 40% done.

This did hold true when I doubled my exercise routine or when I ran double the usual distance. I was surprised I had so much more left in me . More than the physical it’s only the mental barrier that is stopping us from going further. That’s why I feel marathons measure your mental toughness more than physical.

The 40% rule does not only apply to fitness it applies to a lot of areas in life. Take for example, as I type this article I am pushing myself. I am typing it out late at night. I wanted to go to sleep but I applied the 40% rule. Also wouldn’t it be really ironical if I didn’t show mental toughness while writing an article about the same?

Be it staying up late while preparing for an exam or practicing a sport, when we think we are done we can always be sure we have a lot left in us.

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