What fortifies your mental strength?

[Captain_Nick]

One of my jobs is high stress, pressure cooker. I have developed a set of many tools to choose from. I think they have all been mentioned already.

- before going in I like to meditate and focus on how I will do my job, why I will succeed and which of my strengths will see me through. I also try to visualise the job, and myself doing it very well and without stress.
- of course, I also organise my mind in advance so I know what needs to be done and by when. I like to keep the 'size' of the job in my head so that I can exceed it.
- the right choice of music is critical. When I need to pump myself up I like to pick quick, relentless music like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deKy0XKlhvc (I do not recommend the use of The Grid whilst driving). This one -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek847nEHVJA also does the job
- when things go wrong, or if the situation becomes very stressful, I find that focusing on the transient nature of the event helps me focus on the job. I mean 'in half an hour or so this will all be over and I can relax'
- also, focusing on what I am doing right now is a good way to overcome feelings of helplessness or despair when the tide turns against you. Literally focus on doing one thing at a time instead of worrying about how the situation is teetering on the edge of chaos.

This is all mental trickery, but it works

 

[Cheapjack]

I have very little left.

ST4 gets my power indicator up to 20%.

 

[TerokNor]

Recalling other difficult situations that I lived through and survived, telling myself, that I will also survive this situation and that tomorrow/ next wekk or so at this time its over. Remembring whats really important in life (depending on the stressful situation, but I do that for example when examination start again).
Sometimes I also think about fictional character and what obstacles they had to overcome in the stories, how they did it and that they survived it, which strenghes me somehow as well. Or also thinking about real people I know, that had to live through difficult times and how they managed to do this.
Breathing deeply in and out, pacing around or going on a walk to get some nervous energy of of me while telling myself the former said things.

TerokNor

 

[iguana_tonante]

I remember who I am. Failure is not an option.

 

[archeryguy1701]

Music helps me a lot. My favorite ones to get me through the day are Bear McCreary's BSG "actiony" music, with specific good ones being Prelude to War, Appocalype (all 3 versions), and Assault on the Colony.

 

[Kestra]

I remember who I am. Failure is not an option.

I actually do better when failure is an option. When I head out the door before a particularly hard exam, I ask my husband, "It's okay if I fail, right?" And he says, "Right," and I feel less pressure and do better.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I remember who I am. Failure is not an option.

I actually do better when failure is an option. When I head out the door before a particularly hard exam, I ask my husband, "It's okay if I fail, right?" And he says, "Right," and I feel less pressure and do better.

Interesting. I understand why you feel that way: sometimes we are so focused on success that we trick ourselves into thinking that failing at something is the end of the world. It isn't, and once you had shred your fears you can concentrate on the task at hand, instead of wasting your energy worrying.

However, personally I found that I work much better under pressure. Procrastination is my enemy, not pressure. Stress just makes me focused and determined. The more pressure I have on me, the more I find resources to overcome it.

When I step into the fray (be it a difficult exam, a public speech, or even just a situation that I find uncomfortable), I have already fought the battle one thousand times in my mind, and I had convinced myself that failing is simply not possible. Even better: I had convinced myself that I success is already mine, and all I need to claim it is to be myself, and things will naturally work my way. I know, it sounds crazy, but it works more than you would think.

And if I fail... well, that just means that I underestimated the difficulties I was gonna face, and all I need to do is to prepare myself better the next time. And victory will just be more sweet.