“Mental toughness is many things and rather difficult to explain. Its qualities are sacrifice and self-denial. Also, most importantly, it is combined with a perfectly disciplined will that refuses to give in. It’s a state of mind – you could call it character in action.” - Vince Lombardi
 
Do you exhibit the characteristics of mental toughness?

“The golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself. It is not in your environment; it is not in luck or chance, or the help of others; it is in yourself alone.” - Orison Swett Marden
 
Are you looking for your golden opportunity in the right places?

“What is a cynic? A person who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” - Oscar Wilde
 
What do you hold valuable in your life?

We Learn What We’ve Live
 
If we live with criticism, we learn to condemn.
If we live with hostility, we learn to fight.
If we live with ridicule, we learn to withdraw.
If we live with shame, we learn to be guilty.
If we live with tolerance, we learn to be patient.
If we live with encouragement, we learn confidence.
If we live with praise, we learn to appreciate.
If we live with fairness, we learn justice.
If we live with security, we learn to have faith.
If we live with approval, we learn to like ourselves.
If we live with acceptance and friendship, we learn to find love in the world.
 
Author: Unknown 

“When people are ruled by fear, they strive to prevent the very changes that will abate it.” - Alan Paton
 
What is fear preventing you from doing? 

“Striving to be better, oft we mar what is well.” - William Shakespeare
 
Are you able to determine what needs fixing and what should be left alone?

“The falling drop at last will wear the stone.” - Lucretius
 
How relentless are you at reaching your dreams?

"A true hero never surrenders...He is distinguished from the others not by the great initial exploit or the pride with which he faces tortures and death but the constancy with which he repeats himself, the patience with which he suffers and reacts, the pride with which he hides his sufferings and flings them back in the face of the one who has ordered them. Not resigning himself is his secret, not considering himself a victim, not showing others his sadness and despair."

From: A Man by Oriana Fallaci

“Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.” - Albert Einstein
 
What is your attitude saying about your character? 

“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me?” - Ayn Rand
 
Who is stopping you from reaching your goals?  

“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.” - Leonardo da Vinci
 
Are you doing what you need to be successful?  

“The real winners in life are the people who look at every situation with an expectation that they can make it work or make it better.” - Barbara Pletcher
 
Where are your expectations leading you?

Helping Hands
 
A mother, wishing to encourage her son's progress at the piano, bought tickets to a performance by the great Polish pianist Ignace Paderewski. When the evening arrived, they found their seats near the front of the concert hall and eyed the majestic Steinway waiting on the stage. Soon the mother found a friend to talk to, and the boy slipped away.
At eight o'clock, the lights in the auditorium began to dim, the spotlights came on, and only then did they notice the boy - up on the piano bench, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." His mother gasped in shock and embarrassment but, before she could retrieve her son, the master himself appeared on the stage and quickly moved to the keyboard.
He whispered gently to the boy, "Don't quit. Keep playing." Leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon his right arm reached around the other side and improvised a delightful obligato. Together, the old master and the young novice held the crowd mesmerized with their blended and beautiful music.
In all our lives, we receive helping hands - some we notice, some we don't. Equally we ourselves have countless opportunities to provide helping hands - sometimes we would like our assistance to be noticed, sometimes we don't. Little of what we all achieve is without learning from others and without support from others and what we receive we should hand out.
 
www.rogerdarlington.me.uk/stories.