Definition:

Adjective:

• (of a substance or object) strong enough to withstand adverse conditions or rough handling.
• able to endure hardship or pain.

Verb:

• endure a period of hardship or difficulty.

I think most of us have known tough times and one person’s tough times will differ from another.  Things that I have found tough others would sail through and vice versa.  The thing to remember is that there is no template for it.  Your tough time is very different to the next persons but you both need to be tough to get through it!

The old-fashioned word for a hard-man was a “tough” - send in the toughs!  But whilst these men were strong physically and able to inflict injury they may well not be mentally tough!

As it says above, toughness is the ability to withstand adverse conditions or rough handling or the ability to endure hardship or pain.  People have different physical pain thresholds and that is the same for mental toughness.  It doesn’t matter if you think another person’s problems are minor it is how they affect them that is important.  Empathy is an important skill that nobody is taught and often only comes with experience or suffering tough times yourself.

I guess we all know by now that keeping physically fit is really important and physical toughness will help us get through harder times, illness, energy draining situations etc but can we do anything to work on our mental toughness?  Again there are lots of different tools to help, learn to relax, learn to sleep better, be kinder to yourself, develop your interests, spend time in nature……