Say what you need to say. As we see more and more athletes come forward publicly about their struggles with mental health, we’re also seeing athletes take breaks from their sport in very public ways to take care of their mental health.
Some people have called these athletes out for being “weak” or not “mentally tough.” I find this ironic because most people would never admit their vulnerabilities to their closest friends, much less the public at large.
But, this is not about being right or wrong. It’s about living a life that is true to yourself. And, who knows the answer to that other than you?
One of the most courageous and mentally tough things a person can do is to speak their truth, especially if they are afraid of the consequences.
It is uncomfortable to bury the pain, and it’s uncomfortable to face it. But, when you walk through it, you get to leave it behind. On the other hand, if you bury it, you have to continue to carry it with you.
I can’t see what’s going on in your head any more than you can see what’s going on in my head. So, when we look at athletes and judge whether they are tough enough, that’s not an evaluation that we have the right to make.
Athletes aren’t machines. Stop expecting them to be.
For my athletes, facing your demons is harder than running from them. Walking through the fire—even if it’s invisible to others—is the very definition of building mental toughness. Developing your mental health and wellness is the vehicle.
Being willing to face your weaknesses is straight up mental toughness.
When we try to pit mental health against mental toughness, we’re missing the point. You can’t have one without the other. The degree to which you develop your mental health is the degree to which you can be mentally tough. On the other hand, it takes mental toughness to work through blocks in your mental health. You can’t have incredible mental health if you choose to ignore the things you need to heal, negative thought habits, blocks, etc.
It’s all intertwined. We have to get away from this notion that you’re either mentally tough or working through your mental health. You can exist in both spaces.
It’s having the ability to say, “I’m not okay right now, but I will be okay. Let me honor how I’m feeling so that I come back stronger, and enjoy my life more. I know this will be hard but I can do this. This is about being a better version of myself so that I can also be a better person for those around me.”
If you want to be mentally tough, you have to address the weak points, so speak up.
Get yourself a team to help guide you and support you as you speak your truth and develop your mental health and mental toughness skills. Surround yourself with people who truly have your back and support your entire well-being (mind, body, and soul).
As a mental health coach, I’m available to my athlete clients when they need support. For example, if they have something on their mind before or after practice, they can reach out to me to talk in a confidential space. Request a free VIP session to learn more.