Mental Toughness

Mental toughness is a key aspect of successful self defense (or any other type of combat). It is an essential to the Christian Martialist's mindset. Without mental toughness, you will fold under the pressure of an attack.

Some people equate toughness with roughness. Insensitivity or lack of compassion toward others does not make you tough. Tenderness of heart and deep feeling harmonize well with the quality of mental toughness.

The US military uses the time-honored ritual of basic training to instill mental toughness in recruits. Calculated physical and mental stress weeds out those most likely to crack under the pressures of combat. Those who survive become stronger, physically and mentally.

I've heard some US Marines say, "That which does not kill you only makes you stronger." The saying is predicated on the idea that mental stress increases mental toughness. It's similar to the idea that adding weight to your barbell will increase your muscular effort and result in greater strength.

In fact, physical and mental toughness go together. As a rule, the stronger and more fit you are physically, the more mental and emotional stress you can endure. Conversely, the tougher you are mentally, the harder you may train yourself physically.

Have you heard the saying, "Pain is just weakness leaving the body"? Sometimes training -- and combat -- require you to push through the pain. When you do that, you're increasing your mental toughness. (I'm not talking about ignoring real injuries in training. Those you need to heed.)

The Bible has something to say about this. I guess I'll try to tackle that in Mental Toughness, 2.