Mental Toughness

What is mental toughness? What is it for? and What should it look like in a Christian?

These are some big questions I have been wrestling with lately as far as water polo goes. I've had a really tough year and just now God showed me that in my pursuit of mental toughness, I've been trying to take back control of something only He can solve.

I think you need mental toughness in general to not get stressed out when things start piling up on you, when you want to snap at someone but don't, when you have a hundred things to do and a friend is really in need, to serve and love others completely and wholely selflessly and not take offense or despairi when you get walked all over, to get back up after falling down, to perservere at something even when you really want to quit, and, most evidently in my life, in a sports game. It only just clicked to me that sports can go on that list too, and each item on that list sounds a bit like the only way to actually do such things for many would be to obtain a certain peace that surpasses all understanding that can only come from God in order to keep control... interesting huh?

The bible tells us we have "the mind of Christ," and that with God's calling also comes His covering and provision. It tells us that perserverance is a fruit of the spirit, a steadfastness that is willing to hold onto the promises of God for dear life UNTIL we see those promises come to pass in our lives. And it tells me that God WANTS me trust Him enough to KNOW that I'm good enough - actually just enough in general - to be where Has me moment by moment.

I'd really really like to hear other people's opinion on mental toughness, and what it shoud look like in christians and examples and stuff. I'm still meshing through it.

I just know that when you play a sport, when you're doing something freely and it's something you're good at, it flows, it's free, you don't have to think and you don't get upset when you make mistakes. You don't think about what you do whether it's good or bad, you just get as much as you possibly can out of each second, each moment. And when you start stressing yourself out over tiny things that shouldn't bother you, it's not of God. It's taken me nearly a year to realise this! And the freedom is coming, but I'd still really love to hear what people think : )

much love
A xxox