About the author:

Alex Bolowich s a Certified Mental Performance Consultant and founder of Elite Mental Performance, a private practice in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he specializes in working with athletes to help them perform in the most intense situations, recover from significant injuries, and mentor them through life's challenges. If you are interested in any of his signature programs, use the link here! Enjoy the article below!

Mastering the Mundane: What Separates The Good From The Great.

When you think of mental toughness, do you think of running outside in the cold rain or maybe the 5:00 AM wake-up call for weights? Most athletes think that this is the ideal image of being "mentally tough." They think there has to be physical discomfort and that it has to be some big moments of intensity.

But that couldn't be further from the truth. How so? Simple...

Try sitting in complete silence for 5 minutes. No phone. No music. No distractions. Just you and your thoughts. Most athletes wouldn't do it. And that's the problem.

See, they've confused mental toughness with mental intensity. They think because they can get hyped up before a game, push through pain, or bounce back from a loss that they're mentally tough.

But real mental toughness? It's built in the silence. In the boring moments. In doing the things that don't give you that immediate rush of satisfaction. 15 minutes of mental training is so much harder than 1.5 hours of physical training. But don't just take our word for it, take the word of one of the best soccer players in the world Mohammad Salah:

Here's what nobody tells you about mental training: It's boring. Sometimes it's mind-numbingly boring. That weight room session? It floods your body with endorphins, adrenaline, and testosterone. You feel the burn. See the pump. Get that immediate feedback that says "I'm getting stronger."

But sitting still for 10 minutes of breathing work? Journaling about your performance when you'd rather be on Instagram? Visualizing your technique when Netflix is calling your name? No rush. No immediate reward. No dopamine hit. Just the quiet discipline of doing what's necessary.

This is where most athletes quit. They start strong - download a meditation app, buy a journal, and commit to visualization practice. But within weeks, these tools are collecting dust. Why?

Because it's easier to convince yourself you're mentally tough by grinding in the weight room than it is to sit with your own thoughts for 5 minutes. Because posting that workout video feels better than writing in your journal. Because "getting hyped" is more fun than controlling your breath. If you want more information on how to "Love the Boredom," take a look at this article by James Clear, one of the world leading experts in developing powerful habits:

How to Fall in Love with Boredom

Here's the reality: Your competition isn't being won or lost in those intense moments everyone sees. It's being won or lost in these mundane moments no one sees.

The best athletes in the world understand this. They don't do what they want to do. They don't even do their best. They do what's necessary. Winston Churchill said it best, "Sometimes it's not enough to do our best, we must do what is necessary."

Starting today, you have a choice:

- Keep chasing the rush of intensity

- Or embrace the power of mundane mastery

The first will make you feel tough... The second will make you tough. Most athletes will choose feeling over being.

What will you choose?

If you're serious about training your mind below the surface, and do the impactful work (regardless if it's boring), apply for a consultation to see if it's a good fit!