Clear out the distractions

Whatever it is, be clear about what you’re going after and tie it to concrete actions. You can’t think your way to becoming mentally tough, you prove it to yourself by doing something in real life.

Mental toughness needs to be worked to grow and develop. If you haven’t pushed yourself in thousands of small ways, you’ll wilt when things get difficult.

Extreme situations test our courage, perseverance, and mental toughness, but so do everyday circumstances. Challenge yourself whenever you can, consistently do what you know you’re supposed to and don’t let your brain’s laziness control you.

• It ignores the market. Unless you have a trust fund waiting for you, you’ll have to feed yourself and others. 
• It will turn a passion into a job. 

1. Identify real needs in the market that are currently not being well met. 
2. Assess your strengths: Whatever is easy for you that most others have a harder time with, that’s a worthy option.
3. Match up these two in a constantly iterative process: This process takes many years if not decades.

As you let go of your dream, you may fear you're making a mistake.

• There's no calculus for knowing when to give up. If pursuing your dream comes at great personal cost to your relationships and other goals in life (which is different from a 'harmonious passion'), that would suggest it was wise to give it up.
• Success is not all or nothing. You may not have fulfilled your dream, but you likely learned much along the way, giving you a chance to redirect your energy and passions in new ways.

Psychologists see goal adjustment capacity as a beneficial form of 'self-regulation' or 'self-management.'

It contains two parts:

1. The ability to disengage from fruitless goals
2. The ability to know when and how to change to new, more productive goals.

Those who are flexible and adaptable are generally happier, perform better. They often get promoted. If you are thinking of giving up your dream, it suggests you have a healthy willingness to adjust and adapt.