What does it really take to have a strong mental core?

Ever find yourself rolling your eyes at main-stream self-help articles or books that appear to insinuate this “fast track” approach to being the best you? I know I do. Whether you are a top level athlete, executive, or someone just trying to take their “game” to the next level – most people that commit to something larger than themselves realize there is no quick fix or solution. In fact, just when you think you’ve cracked the code, you find yourself needing to adjust your mindset for a different demand. Priorities are constantly evolving between training goals, professional endeavors, and let’s not forget personal life!

I think to myself three things when discussing mental performance: Effort, consistency, and passion.

These three things are the basic fundamentals to success in your craft and are pervasive in other areas of your life too. If you look at the research on sustaining optimal performance, it typically follows these guidelines. Keeping it simple and steady, with a touch of enjoyment usually wins the race.

Bottom line: the brain needs fuel, hydration, and physical movement to perform optimally. Couple this with some adequate sleep and recovery and you become the sought after person in the arena.

Gut check these pillars and ID what areas you think need most TLC this week. Once you decide, commit and get to work!