Sample Content Preview

Introduction

Failure comes in many shapes and forms. It could be failing an exam, losing your business, not getting the promotion you were expecting or a painful marital breakup.

Failure is also relative. For one person, a stern reprimand from the boss is an embarrassing failure while for another, it's just an embarrassment.

In the first instance, the person would squirm with shame and frustration for days, reliving the moment over and over. The second person quickly races to fix the mistake and regain the boss's approval.

Whereas one person sees losing their job as failure, another sees it as a setback. It depends on the individual's personal "failure scale".

In an ideal world, everyone would never use the word "failure" but instead, think "obstacle" or "setback." But realistically, that doesn’t happen.

Anyone who tells you they haven't experienced failure is lying to your face. Like death and taxes, failure is an inevitable part of life. And it doesn't happen once. We're likely to experience many failures of varying magnitude throughout our lifetime. It's always painful, shameful, frustrating and sometimes, it can be devastating.

Some interesting facts about failure

Several research studies have been done on failure and its effect on individuals. Some of the findings include:

Failure decreases a person's confidence in their skills and abilities. They equate failure to inferiority.

Failure makes the goal appear unattainable. This is the reason why many people change track midway or just give up. They believe that since they failed once, they will continue to fail.

An extreme and irrational fear of failure can be caused by just one failure or setback.

Failure makes people helpless. Some people become so overwhelmed with despair that they literally feel their lives have come to an end.

Failure causes emotional and mental pain

Don't despair - these are the negative findings. On the positive side, research has also shown that those who are hungry for success and willing to go the extra mile always bounce back from failure more quickly and spectacularly. This is what this book is all about.

Why do we take failure so hard? One reason is because we take it so personally! Have you ever known anyone who intentionally set themselves up to fail? Yes, failure happens and it could be our fault but never our fault by intention.

The key to bouncing back from failure is not to take it personally. You need to learn to look at failure objectively in order to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and put it behind you.

There are 7 powerful ways to develop that neutral, objective mindset to be able to honestly assess failure, learn the lessons you need to and move on to bigger and better successes.

Is that all it takes? Yes! You're just 7 steps away from developing amazing resilience and grit in the face of any failure!

Approach Vs. Avoidant Mentality - Which One Are You?

No two failures or setbacks are exactly the same nor are any two reactions to failure exactly alike. The way individuals deal with failure is a uniquely personalized experience. Their perception depends upon their character, their circumstances and the type and scope of the failure.

For some, losing their job can be like a devastating hurricane that totally crushes them. For others, it's like a tornado that does some minor damage. Others see it like a thunderstorm that will temporarily derail them. Still, failure isn't fun and nobody takes it lightly.

Understanding how you perceive and deal with failure is the first step to bouncing back more effectively. There are two basic mindsets that govern how we relate to failing; approach or avoidant. Read on to identify whether you have an approach mentality or an avoidant mentality.

Sample Content Preview

Introduction

Whether at our workplace or in our social circle, we all know someone who's mentally tough and resilient. This is the type of person who never gives up, sees setbacks as an exhilarating challenge, and never seems fazed no matter how tough the going gets.

In fact, they seem to thrive in chaotic situations. The hotter things get, the cooler they appear, not a hair out. What's more, they never seem to get fatigued. They vibrate with perpetual energy and passion. They radiate with positivity and cheerfulness. Naturally, these people are also spectacular achievers. For them success is a given.

Do you envy these seemingly invincible superheroes? Do you find yourself wondering what their secret is? Well, why waste time on envy when you can become just as tough and resilient? Why puzzle over their secret when it's right here in this book?

Mental toughness is not a special talent or a God-given trait. It's a skill that you can master to develop a tough-as-nails mindset that can overcome any setback or adversity. And along with it, you can be sure that burnout will be eliminated from your life.

Developing these essential qualities for success is fairly simple. The strategy consists of 8 secrets that are so powerful that they will change your life.

What is Mental Toughness?

We all have a general idea of what it means to be mentally tough but what exactly does mental strength involve? And how does it prevent burnout? Mental resilience is a combination of different qualities.

It's the ability to deal with change, pressure, and stress while performing at peak capacity. This ability to take anything in stride is fueled by a powerful mindset of self-belief, optimism, and positivity. Simply put, mentally resilient people live by the mantra "I can do it."

Developing mental toughness is just like working out to develop physical fitness and strength. It involves developing a set of habits that build mental resilience and strength. The 8 secrets discussed here will help you do that. When practiced consistently, you will begin to experience dramatic changes in your life.

Based on this definition, it's not hard to see how developing mental resilience is fundamental to achieving your goals and living your best life.

The 4 C's of Mental Toughness

Before proceeding with the 8 secrets, there are 4 basic factors you need to reflect upon in order to create effective change.

The 4 C's are four areas you need to reflect on to assess where you currently stand on the mental resilience scale. Acknowledging that you need to change and making the commitment to tackle your weak points is the first important step.

Changing your mindset and learning new habits is a transformative endeavor and therefore, does require some effort on your part. The 4 C's are the basic pillars that lay the groundwork for your transformation.

Commitment

Commitment means making the wholehearted intention to build mental toughness and change your life. It means making it your full focus and top priority. It means practicing the 8 steps diligently until you have mastered them.

Anything less will result in mediocre, temporary change and you will have wasted your time. So, be prepared to put in the time and effort and make the commitment to stick to it.

Commitment involves bringing the process of change into everything you do and keeping it always top of mind. It involves avoiding distractions and not allowing yourself to get sidetracked.

A high commitment level also means establishing consistent routines to build new habits and break old behaviors that are holding you back.

All it takes is a few moments of honest self-reflection. Identify the habits that have been standing between you and your full potential and making the intention to break them.

End your self-reflection session by pledging to yourself the commitment that your main goal in the coming period will be to develop mental toughness.

Sample Content Preview

Introduction

If you are not a “morning person” you may recoil in horror at the idea of waking up even earlier to include morning rituals in your busy schedule. You do not have to wake up at 5 AM every day to benefit from introducing morning rituals into your life.

If you drink a cup of coffee in the morning or immediately start scrolling through social media after turning off your alarm then you already have morning rituals. The idea is to optimize your morning routine for a more stress-free and productive day. Our mornings can set the tone for the rest of our day which is why many experts recommend using the morning to spend some time on you.

What is a Morning Ritual?

A morning ritual is a task that you perform in the morning every day. This can range from taking a walk to making a to-do list. Your morning rituals should be tailored for what works best for you.

Benefits of Morning Rituals

These benefits of morning rituals are backed by scientific studies.

More Productive Days

Taking a few moments at the beginning of the day to organize your thoughts and plan your day can go a long way when it comes to productivity. Going into work groggy, grumpy, and unprepared can leave you feeling unfulfilled and unaccomplished. Having a productive day is not just about making a to-do list either.

Having a morning ritual that makes you feel good about yourself and start the day off in a relaxed mood will also help you be more productive. Instead of rushing into all of the tasks you have to complete with a scrambled mind.

Less Stress

Stress is a normal human reaction to having too much to do in too little time. There are a lot of physical and mental ways that stress can affect you over time. This includes increased anxiety, developing depression, fatigue, headaches, and even body pains from tension.

One of the ways that having a morning ritual benefits you is that you know what to expect every morning and so your brain has less to worry about. Self-care rituals like exercise, journaling, or meditation can reduce your stress levels throughout the day because you can approach challenges from a clear mindset.

Live Healthier

If your morning rituals currently include things like pressing the snooze button multiple times, scrolling on social media while chugging a boiling cup of coffee, skipping breakfast, and violating several traffic laws as you speed to work...well that’s not great, but you are not alone. Many people get into bad habits and do not know how to break them. Having a morning ritual is a great way to implement healthy habits into your life.

Having a schedule in the morning can help you make time in your day for working out and eating a healthy breakfast. These healthy habits will make you feel more energized and productive throughout the day and benefit your long term health. It is tempting to hit the snooze button (we have all been there), but once you get into a routine your body will adjust to waking up at a specific time. Having morning rituals that you enjoy to look forward to will motivate you to get out of bed in the mornings.

Better Memory

Have you ever taken a long commute to work and settled into your work when you suddenly groan and realize you forgot to complete an important task at home? Having a morning routine can help to prevent you from forgetting important things. Imagine working all night on writing a paper just to forget it at home on the day it is due. Instances like that are avoidable by using morning rituals to take time to reflect on the day ahead of you and prepare.

Getting into a regular morning routine means that you do the same tasks every morning which makes it harder to forget things. Creating a to-do list is a morning ritual that will have a huge benefit in helping you to remember all of the important things you have to get done that day. Being clear-headed in the morning helps to improve memory.

Make More Time For Yourself

Morning routines save time because you do not have to waste time thinking about what to do next. This means that you can get more sleep or get more things done in the morning. Having time for yourself in the morning means that you can spend more time getting ready for the day. You can plan out your outfits and spend more time on your appearance which will make you feel confident and look more put together.

For many people, the morning hours are a sacred time. Families with children will appreciate the quiet and calm before the kids wake up. Take time for yourself in the morning to walk outside and smell the fresh air. Write in your journal, burn a candle, meditate, take a bath, and pamper yourself and you will feel better all day. There are many ways that you can pamper yourself in the morning.