Toughness means not turning around when you get to the point where you feel uncomfortable or when facing new situation that you had not been in before. The process is the same when facing physically, mentally or emotionally challenging situations. You have a choice, ignore the situation, push the responsibility of solving the situation to someone else, or face it, own it, analyze it and decide how to approach it and resolve it using any combination of the tools you carry in your toolbox. Military experience is so valuable because you are put on a daily basis in uncomfortable situations where you must face the challenge and own resolution to the problem. After repeating it for so many times, it becomes second nature, it becomes part of who you are. This attitude and mindset has served me well in so many situations in my post-military civilian career.

I enjoyed a lot reading your article and I find so much truth in it related to my experience in life. I read a few books writen by psychologists who also state importance of physical health and toughness, so one could achieve and maintain mental and emotinal health and toughness. However, they all stop short of saying how to achieve it, and this is where your article and tactical athlete books come in. I can't wait to start reading your latest "The never quit mindset" book.