The 4 C's of Mental Toughness

On January 15, 2009, US Air Flight 1549 departed from LaGuardia Airport in New York City with Captain Chesley Sullenberger at the controls. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane encountered a bird strike that resulted in the loss of power in the plane's engines. However, quick thinking led Captain Sullenberger to choose the less risky option of landing on the icy Hudson River instead of returning to LaGuardia or continuing to Teterboro, the next closest airport. Captain Sullenberger's courageous act exemplifies mental toughness. In other words, his action reflects The Four C's Of Mental Toughness, which enabled him to land his plane on the Hudson River, bringing all 155 passengers to safety.

What is mental toughness?

Mental toughness (MT) is the ability to perform consistently and productively under pressure. The concept of MT was first coined by Jim Loehr, a sports psychologist working with athletes, aiming to improve sporting performance. Professor Peter Clough, professor of applied psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University, expanded on the concept and how it relates to success. In his book "Developing Mental Toughness," Clough, describes four essential traits of mentally tough people, which he calls the four C's: of mental toughness.

The 4 C's of mental toughness 

Challenge: While mentally sensitive people see challenges as threats, mentally tough people see challenges as opportunities. They use stumbling blocks as stepping stones, and their attitude is generally, "I am not what has happened to me; I am what I choose to be."

Control: In life, we only have control over a few things. However, mentally tough people believe that they are in control of their destinies. Therefore, they take control of where they want their life to go, irrespective of what happens to them. In addition, mentally tough people take control of their emotions by learning to manage stress, anxiety, doubt, and fear.

Commitment: Mentally tough people set goals and have an obsession with achieving them. They possess "stickability" and will not relent under pressure but stay the course until the goal gets achieved.

Confidence: Having high levels of self-belief is a dominant trait in mentally tough people. They believe in their abilities and are confident that they can achieve their goals. Likewise, being confident means having the interpersonal skills to speak in public with poise and not taking feedback negatively during the communication process.

The bottom line 

You may already possess a certain level of mental toughness, but having the four qualities is essential to your success, especially in this constantly changing world. So if you desire to be more mentally tough, start developing your 4 C's by looking for opportunities to integrate them into your daily life.