Have you ever wondered how much mental strength you have? We give you a brief test with which you will evaluate your will and discover it.
1) You spoil a good pass or you burn a toast. What do you do?
A. You make fun of yourself.
B. You throw the ball against the ground and say an obscenity.
C. You shrug your shoulders and move on.
Composure after a mistake is an important measure of mental firmness, says Dr. Patrick Cohn, coach of “mental game” at Peak Performance Sports in Orlando. “If you have expectations and your performance does not match, you will get frustrated.” The anxiety that this produces will weaken your mental game, on and off the court. “You have to forget expectations,” says Cohn. And when something goes wrong, don’t give it too much attention.
2) What film hero do you identify with?
A. Quiet, like Christian Bale.
B. Fighter, like Vin Diesel.
C. Irascible, like Hugh Jackman.
The most relaxed types are the toughest, says Bill Kipp, a former Marine and the owner of FAST Defense, a company that trains people to handle crises. “The strong-minded can respond to each situation spontaneously,” he says, “so that they remain relaxed during normal periods, rather than stress.” Meditating for 20 minutes daily clears and stimulates your mind. That’s right, Marines meditate. You have a problem with that?
3) You make eye contact with a beautiful woman at the bar. Y…
A. You smile, but you let her come to you.
B. You change the view immediately.
C. You approach and offer him a drink.
Confidence is crucial to mental strength, so build it by overcoming challenges, says Cohn. “Ask yourself what you have done in the past that proves you can do something today.” Try to put on as many challenges as possible, whether it be mountaineering, Thai cooking or bringing eye contact to something more substantial.
4) You just got fired. What are you doing now?
A. Disconnect the phone and lower the curtains
B. Invite friends to encourage you.
C. Speak badly about your boss in your blog.
The weak respond by hiding their heads or undertaking it with someone. “Someone with mental strength has the maturity to ask for help when needed,” says Kipp. Become a solid group of friends you can count on. When you doubt your abilities, they will remind you of your worth.
Qualification
1. A = 2, B = 1, C = 3
2. A = 3, B = 2, C = 1
3. A = 2, B = 1, C = 3
4. A = 2, B = 3, C = 3
If you did
4-6: You have a serious case of mental weakness.
7-9: You are halfway to your mental strength.
10-12: You have a will of steel. Use it wisely.