The last 10% of any challenging situation can often be the hardest, regardless of how long you’ve been going.

Using running as an example, you might run 3 miles and the last 15 minutes is a slog and you want to stop. Whereas you could be running 6 miles at the same effort and you’re fine through mile 3 and it’s not until mile 5 that your mental strength starts to fade.

It’s usually to do with expectation.

The military use anticipation as a way to filter out those who don’t have the character they need. They get you to run a long route, and when you arrive back tell you to do it all again. Those who just turn around without hesitation are considered mentally strong in the context of endurance.

There is a place in your mind you can go where you don’t attach yourself to a ‘finish line’.

It lowers stress.

It increases your ability to endure.

Consider having it available as part of your mindset for when you need it.

How to create it

Set yourself to ‘low and slow’.

Make your only expectation, that you move forward.

Relax and take the first step.