The optimal mindset to recover from or prevent injury, involves finding a harmonious balance between mental toughness and self-compassion

What does that mean? 

You need to need to have the mental fortitude and coping strategies to handle stress and adversity (injury) as well as the self-compassion to respect your limits and seek help, expertise, and medical care when needed. 

It's a hard balance that many tactical athletes struggle to find. The trained mental toughness mechanisms chirp in your ear to 'continue on' and 'tough it out'. But sometimes the body (and mind) can only be patched up and toughed out for so long before it breaks. 

Self-compassion is voice that should be sitting on your other shoulder that grants you the permission to stop and seek help when needed. It should be the voice that reminds you to take care of yourself.

The best patients to work with, have mastered this balance. They know when to push it and when it's time to dial back. They respect both the capabilities and limits of the body while working towards short and long term goals. They understand that there is no weakness in caring for yourself. 

As a tactical athlete, you have to think of the long game. Your profession is demanding both physically and mentally. You have to make sure there will be a viable body and mind left for you (and your family) to enjoy at the end of your career. Finding this balance- the balance between mental toughness and self-compassion is the key to winning the long game. 

In my world, as a Physical Therapist, I use exercise to train this concept in regards to understanding and appreciating physical pain and sensations. I utilize daily mobility work for ongoing self-assessment and evaluation of joint performance. What sensations do you feel? What do you notice as you move each joint? Which movements feel restricted? Which ranges of motion feel painful? Understanding that pain and discomfort is not always need for alarm. Sometimes pain and discomfort is the body's way of speaking to us. 

Learning to tune into what your body is feeling and how it is performing is key both from a mental toughness and a self-compassion perspective. You develop an enhanced awareness to the small details in how your body is moving or performing. This gives you information on when to dial back, when to push harder, and when to seek help. 

This is a form of self-care that can go a long way. You become acquainted with what your body is trying to tell you and then have to opportunity to address it's needs before they becoming full-blow pain/injury. 

Having a recovery mindset is critical to support career longevity and both physical and mental performance.  Remember to play the long game. And as always, reach out if I may be of service to you. 

Stay strong,