Many of us grew up in an era when “toughness” was something to be proud of. We wore our toughness on our sleeves like a badge of honor. Mental toughness is how we are often expected to respond to pressure, whether at work or in our personal lives. The tough mindset may get you through some difficult moments, but suppressing our emotions during difficult times can lead to procrastination, poor performance, and self-sabotage over time.