Mental toughness is developed by consistently facing one's fears rather than avoiding them, and it requires a lifelong, daily commitment to pushing past discomfort.

“Mental toughness isn't something that you sample it's something that you live in every day”

One must intentionally visit and confront their dark side to control it, rather than letting it control them.

“if you go visit the darkness that you've been running from you'll have the opportunity to leave a better person you'll have a better understanding of yourself you have better understanding of your purpose but if you don't take that trip and the darkness comes visits you it's a guest that will never ”

He believes the key to his success as a fighter is a never-give-up attitude and a willingness to engage in problem-solving in difficult positions.

“that's the guy that turns up in the gym every time like just never give up attitude and you know problem solving is like [ __ ] just do what you've got to do to get out of [ __ ] this you know and I won't look for any other option other than you know do something [ __ ] about it”

Aspinall claims that the ability to perform under high-pressure situations, even while experiencing fear, is a crucial component of his mental strength.

“I have a God-given gift or whoever universe given gift or whoever you believe in that I can perform extremely well under the highest pressure situations possible. Even though you feel the fear. Even though I feel the fear because I accept the fear. I bathe in the fear.”

Israel Adesanya asserts his ability to endure and thrive in dark, high-pressure situations.

“I'm that dude I can go to that place that darkness and Thrive not survive thrive”

He recommends that athletes visualize their own past successes to regain confidence and mental strength.

“i'm visualizing the [ __ ] that i've done i'm a big visualizer you know what i'm saying right before the game imagine them juices that get going you see yourself spin move stiff running guys over go in the distance what's wrong with it yeah it's a constant reminder and that's where we need to be”

Mental strength is developed through a consistent, daily practice of activities like prayer, mindfulness, meditation, and visualization.

“It's a consistent practice. It's prayer work, mindfulness, meditation, conscious breathing. It requires more responsibility from you on a daily basis to prepare yourself for the biggest battle.”

Mental toughness is the ability to navigate difficult emotions and inner spirals so they do not overwhelm you and prevent you from acting effectively.

“What real toughness to me is navigating. How do we understand our inner world and those emotions so that they don't overwhelm us? How do we stop that spiral or that that rock rolling down the hill and gaining momentum? How do we stop it early enough so that we can do something about it?”

She believes it is helpful to accept nervous thoughts and doubts rather than trying to suppress them.

“Not by trying to like make them go away because I feel like the moment when you try to make things go away, they actually like growing more and it it's it's like more and it's uh not easy to handle. So, I'm just trying to tell myself it's okay to feel that.”

She maintains that journaling is an essential practice for processing emotions and maintaining the mental focus required of an athlete.

“Journaling has allowed me to process my thoughts, my feelings, my emotions, really to hear myself talk. You know, one thing about it, I'm gonna talk out loud. I might be talking in the mirror. I talk to myself and I have to hear that.”

Developing mental strength begins by being aware of your surroundings and choosing to associate with people who lift you up rather than sink your ship.

“it starts with who's around you that's where it starts if you have people around you anybody can break victimhood like anybody can you can so I want to put that out there just because you're locked in the place doesn't mean you have to stay in there”

Seeking support, such as professional advice or accountability groups, is a sign of strength that indicates a serious commitment to change.

“seeking help doesn't make you weak it makes you strong and it's also a sign when you seek help that you are serious about changing that you're the kind of person that doesn't let these moments and these obstacles that are going to come up stop you”

Mental struggle is a real challenge for athletes, and overcoming it requires the support of positive people and a willingness to fix one's habits.

“I blocked out my family. I I didn't I was very short with my with my good friends that genuinely cared about my well-being, and I tried to take it alone head-on, and it was just worse.”