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Do Hard Things
Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness by Steve Magness
How might we redefine toughness in a way that builds resilience rather than breaks you down?
In Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of REAL TOUGHNESS, Steve Magness explores this question, showing how true toughness comes from embracing discomfort, not avoiding it.
SMARTEST TAKEAWAYS
The Power of Real Toughness
1️⃣ Controlled Discomfort: Magness teaches that true toughness involves deliberately facing discomfort with awareness, rather than pushing through pain blindly.
2️⃣ Rest as a Weapon: Recovery isn’t a weakness—Magness highlights how strategic rest builds resilience and prevents burnout, making you stronger in the long run.
3️⃣ Focus on Process, Not Outcome: Shifting your mindset to enjoy the process rather than fixating on the end result leads to sustainable success, especially when facing difficult challenges.
INSIGHTFUL EXAMPLE
The Navy SEALs Approach
Magness references the Navy SEALs’ use of mental endurance training, emphasizing that their toughness comes from staying calm under pressure and managing emotions effectively, rather than brute force.
A QUOTE TO REMEMBER
Find Strength in Rest
"Real toughness is having the wisdom to know when to push and when to pull back."
BOOK FACTS
Do Hard Things
Publication date: June 21, 2022
Print length: 320 pages
Listening length: 8:53
Ratings: 4.5 Amazon, 3.8 Goodreads
DID YOU KNOW?
The Numbers Behind Resilience
Mental Resilience and Performance: Research from the American Psychological Association shows that mental resilience boosts performance under pressure by 25%, highlighting the importance of emotional control.
Sleep and Recovery: A Stanford study found that athletes who increased their sleep duration improved performance by 9%, emphasizing how rest directly impacts toughness and endurance.
Focus and Stress: A study in "Journal of Applied Psychology" showed that workers who focused on their process rather than outcomes reduced stress levels by 30% and achieved better long-term results.
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