The Myths of Mental Toughness: Why Mentally Tough People Feel Pain and Discomfort

Mental toughness, a trait celebrated in athletes, soldiers, and business professionals, is often misconstrued as an immunity to pain and discomfort. However, this belief is fundamentally flawed.

Physical Pain and Mental Toughness

Imagine a mentally tough football player who has had a local numbing and steroidal injection in his knee. Can we consider this player mentally tough because he continues to play with an injected knee? No. The idea that mental toughness equates to ignoring or hiding physical pain is misguided and can lead to severe physical damage and long-term health issues.

One might argue that mentally tough people do not feel pain. However, this is inaccurate. The body’s perception of pain is separate from the emotional suffering that a person feels and how they vocalize pain. For example, a child with certain genetic congenital issues might not sense certain stimuli that are damaging to their body. Does this mean they are mentally tough? No. Similarly, an adult who hurts themselves or loses their job and does not respond to pain in the same way as someone with a chronic or cancerous disease does not mean they are mentally tough. The perception of pain's meaning in life is crucial to understanding how a person endures or suffers.

Emotional Pain and Mental Toughness

It's equally important to understand that mentally tough individuals, like the clarinet player mentioned, can feel emotional pain just as acutely as physical pain. The phrase "I used to be one of these people" refers to someone who ignored emotional pain and discomfort in pursuit of their goals. In high school, this individual went through countless hours of rehearsals for honour bands, pushing through physical and emotional pain. Despite feeling significant discomfort, they continued, showing a clear distinction between mental toughness and the ability to ignore pain.

After several months of relentless practice and pain, the player eventually ended up at a specialist. The permanent damage to their wrist served as a wakeup call. The pain and discomfort were warning signs that should never have been ignored. This mindset, driven by the illusion of mental toughness, led to a severe injury, impacting the player's career and destroying any future hopes of using that scholarship for music.

Conclusion

In essence, being mentally tough and ignoring pain and discomfort is sheer stupidity. While mentally tough individuals can indeed feel pain and discomfort, they often have the discipline to refuse to let it take over their lives. However, this does not mean they should ignore the pain or warnings from their body. Pain and discomfort are messages that we should take seriously.

So, the next time someone dismisses your pain as a sign of lack of mental toughness, remember that true mental strength comes from acknowledging and addressing the pain in a constructive manner. Mental toughness is not about ignoring pain; it's about using it as a tool to overcome challenges and grow.