Psychological fitness

Great athletes do not always make great leaders, and great leaders do not always make great athletes, but personal achievement and athletics go hand in hand.

Sports conditioning and rigorous training will yield many great results, a trimmer waistline, nice shoulders, thighs that don’t touch… but there are also psychological results to be attained through training your body.

The following are four major skills that can be developed through training:

Determination - Determination makes winners; the refusal to quit or accept defeat; the persistence to try and try again; and the willingness to practice long and hard. Determined athletes are relentless in their efforts to improve themselves and to win.

Responsibility - Winners accept total responsibility for their actions. Responsibility is taken for self – performance, and errors are viewed as learning experiences.

Leadership – The ability to take charge, to take personal responsibility for difficult tasks, to respect authority. Leadership is developed on the field, and in the gym. Becoming a great leader is preceded by being a great follower.

Mental Toughness - Mental Toughness is a huge factor in attaining one’s goals. Winners learn to accept strong criticism and intense training from demanding coaches. They recover quickly from setbacks and maintain composure when adversity is in their face.

Team sports and regular training cultivate character traits outside of fitness alone. Children are taught athletics and team sports at an early age so as to learn these skills. Continue this trend yourself, in the here and now, to drive performance and build your fitness resume.