What I tell people when asked "How to build MT?"

The most common question I am asked at the end of my lectures usually starts with the word, "How?" It'll be along the lines of...

How do I build mental toughness?

How do I find my driving value?

How do I learn to separate between suffering and pain? (that's a tough one)

Legitimate questions for any person who has decided to intentionally place themselves on the path of hustle and bustle to generate their MT muscle.

But in order to gather the answers to these questions it requires a willingness to sweat, a desire to discover why there is no traffic on the extra mile and to find out through experience why the cliches are true. The answers to these are generally what hide behind the buzz words that nobody really acts on.

Which is why I want to tell you in this article practically what to do. I want you to know the exact words I share with my listeners because you need this message to get back in the game. The two magic words I tell them at the end of my lectures:

EAT $HIT!

Yes, these are the actual words I tell them (literally!), whether it be towards academic students, professionals in the business world or fighters of a prestigious IDF unit. I look them straight in the eye and tell them to EAT ??!

But why? Why not wish them good luck? Why not wish them great success in their future? Why send them off with such a feces-esque odored message?

I have two reasons for this:

1. There is a concept in psychology referred to as "the deviation of expectancy." Such a message ultimately throws them off guard and either makes them laugh or put up their defensive shield (either way I now have their attention).
2. Because the tools of mental toughness were not designed for when things are going well. They are for the moments that hell breaks loose and we are required to bring out a new level of peak performance. The kind that we generally cannot achieve without our backs against the wall.

In essence, eating $hit is an opportunity to unlock the gate of entry to the mental toughness gym.

It's the chance to see how far your driving value will take you. It's a place to explore new techniques to separate pain from suffering. (And after a short recovery time) It becomes the foundations that you will build a true unshakeable self-confidence - all while you understand that more challenges are on the way.

So whether you are ready to build your mental toughness or simply wish to disprove my theory (if you do, please share with me your findings) - then I sincerely hope you EAT $HIT!