Monday, March 11, 2024

What is Real Toughness

"Real toughness is experiencing discomfort or distress,"leaning in, paying attention, and creating space to take thoughtful action. It’s navigating discomfort to make the best decision you can."

-- Steve Magness

This quote by Steve Magness is talking about what it means to be truly tough. He believes that true toughness isn't just about being physically strong or able to handle difficult situations, but it's about being able to experience discomfort or distress and still be able to take thoughtful action.

To put it simply, Steve is saying that real toughness involves being able to navigate uncomfortable situations and making the best decisions possible despite the discomfort. This means leaning into the discomfort, paying attention to what's going on around you, and creating space for yourself to take thoughtful action.

Let me give you an example. Imagine you're taking a really difficult exam, and you start to feel anxious and uncomfortable. A tough person in this situation wouldn't just give up or panic, but they would lean into the discomfort, pay attention to what's going on, and create space to make the best decision possible. They might take a deep breath, refocus their attention, and calmly work through the exam to the best of their ability.

Another example could be in a situation where you need to have a difficult conversation with someone. It's uncomfortable and distressing, but a tough person would lean into the discomfort, pay attention to what's being said, and create space for themselves to respond thoughtfully. They might take a moment to gather their thoughts, speak calmly and respectfully, and work towards a solution.

In summary, Steve Magness is saying that true toughness involves being able to navigate discomfort and distress in order to make the best decisions possible. It's not just about being physically strong, but about being mentally tough and resilient in difficult situations.


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