Our journey toward real toughness is much the same. We start with only one solution: grind it out, ignore much of what’s going on inside. It may help us get through minor difficulties, but eventually it fails. We have to adopt a way to navigate the complex feelings, emotions, and thoughts that swirl whenever we are faced with a challenge. Over time, we gain the ability to pay attention to our inner world, navigate the experience without freaking out, and ultimately make better decisions. As adults, we all have the machinery and capacity to develop that ability.
