Offenses have a multitude of ways to convert yardage into downs, though things can get tight and options become limited in the red zone. Will a team boldly attempt a trick play, let the running back bulldoze his way through the line or have the quarterback attempt a pass to gain the much-needed yardage on the way to score? Failure to convert those chances can mean the difference between victory and loss.

What happens when you’re in a red zone of life, a crossroads that will determine a bright future or one riddled with disgrace? When you’re in a critical third down circumstance, what happens if you fail to convert the opportunity? What happens when you miss the call or drop a responsibility entrusted to you?

Your go-to options when life presents you a challenge into a real-life personal triumph defines who you are at the core of your character. Do you resort to tricks and deception? Perhaps you allow someone else to bulldoze through the opportunity by making decisions for you. You might attempt to pass the issue into another’s hands by ignoring the issue altogether.

Three elements of mental toughness

Being faced head-on with your options is the moment where mental toughness embraces personal accountability. Let’s explore three lessons from the mental toughness playbook that can help you convert on the third downs of your life.

1. Resiliency. The ability to bounce back and bound ahead on a life’s third down situations is the stuff that turns boys into men. A third down situation might include a career decision that involves choosing ethics over promotion or a relationship that needs to introduce healthy boundaries. It may be a sports injury, a major relocation or letting go of something or someone in your life. Failure to convert means staying down and stuck where you are, and you know that life is too short for all that. Build resiliency into your life by finding the silver lining in even the most tragic of circumstances. And yes, there’s always something you can be thankful for. Be of service to others who have had it much worse than you. Take care of yourself in all areas – spiritual, physical, mental and emotional. Practicing those things on a regular basis is your premium ticket to resiliency.
2. Focus.Lack of focus on the task or decision at hand inevitably spells failure to convert. Call a time out on distractions that rip away focus. Temporarily turn off anything that buzzes, vibrates, blinks, dings or rings. Just 25 minutes of focused attention can elevate your productivity in significant ways. Dedication to your strategy and commitment to carry your responsibilities through contains the essentials for focus.
3. Tenacity. It’s easier to run on tenacity when you have a fixed objective. Make sure you write it down and carry it with you and that it strikes both an intellectual and emotional cord. Identify the “why” for what you want to achieve. This one thing will help you live your dreams instead of failing to convert due to fears.

Go for it. Burn these three elements into your heart and soul when the third downs come, and they certainly will. You’ll be equipped to convert them into positive, empowering life situations that spell v-i-c-t-o-r-y for not only you but those within your sphere of influence.

Michelle Hill, the Strong Copy Quarterback at Winning Proof, is a sports and fitness content writer. She writes championship content for pro athletes, coaches, sports agents, sports psychologists, fitness professionals and transformation/success coaches. Her writing includes websites, e-newsletters, e-workbooks, brochures, press releases, blog articles and book development. Let’s call an audible for your next writing project that moves you from the red zone into the end zone.