Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week: Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week

After people become convinced they have what it takes to succeed, they persevere in the face of adversity and quickly rebound from setbacks. By sticking it out through tough times, they emerge stronger from adversity. - Albert Bandura

If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning. ― Mahatma Gandhi

Confidence is a personality characteristic that is developed by walking through various trials and tribulations in life as the author discussed last week. Another trait of mental toughness to develop is self-efficacy. In the audio book SEAL Team Six, Wasdin (2011, 2:12:30) states:

It no longer mattered what we did next. I didn't care. This has got to end sometime. Deprived of support in our environment and support of our own bodies, the only thing propping us up was the belief in accomplishing the mission. Complete hell week. In psychology, this belief is called self-efficacy. Even when the mission seems impossible, it is the belief that makes success possible. The absence of this belief guarantees failure. Strong belief in the mission fuels our ability to focus, to put forth effort and persist. Believe allows us to see the goal.

The same is true of each of us. We have to believe we can accomplish our dreams and also have the passion and drive to do it. As the author was researching self-efficacy, she learned this is a belief in our own ability to accomplishing a task.

How do we build self-efficacy? The author suggests two actions:

1. Reflect on past accomplishments/goals that the reader achieved when he/she did not think it was possible based on current ability. Reminiscing will build self-efficacy and help the reader see how it seemed impossible at one time and how he/she overcame disbelief to complete.

2. Continue accomplishing goals even if they are small. Each time a goal is accomplished, the reader is developing the belief that the capabilities are inside them to achieve the task.

Self-efficacy is the belief in one's capabilities to organize and execute the sources of action required to manage prospective situations. -Albert Bandura

ACTION: Think back to a time when you did not think you had the skills to accomplish something. How did you end accomplishing the task? During this situation, you developed self-efficacy by believing in yourself and that belief will continue to compound to help you accomplish your dreams.

Resources

· Wasdin, Howard E. (2011). SEAL Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper. [Audiobook] Blackstone Publishing.

· https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-self-efficacy-2795954#:~:text=Self-efficacy%20can%20play%20a%20role%20in%20not%20only,experience%2C%20and%20reciprocal%20determinism%20in%20developing%20a%20personality

· https://www.mensjournal.com/features/what-you-can-learn-from-navy-seals-about-grit-and-mental-toughness/

· https://sofrep.com/news/stoicism-how-to-survive-like-a-special-operator/

· https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/mental-toughness-training/

· https://www.ukessays.com/essays/psychology/difference-between-self-confidence-and-self-efficacy-psychology-essay.php

· https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/flourish/201002/if-you-think-you-can-t-think-again-the-sway-self-efficacy

· https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/self-efficacy.html

· https://www.apa.org/pi/aids/resources/education/self-efficacy

· https://www.lifehack.org/533064/you-can-you-think-you-can-4-ways-build-self-efficacy

· https://rickconlow.com/15-goal-achieving-quotes/#:~:text=15%20Powerful%20Goal%20Achieving%20Quotes%201%20%E2%80%9CBegin%20with,into%20the%20visible.%E2%80%9D%20Anthony%20Robbins%20More%20items...