Science of Mental Toughness: Assess yourself using the 4 quadrants of resilience
What separates those who break from those who bend? A shift—not in strength, but in perspective.
In today’s episode, we look at the 4 quadrants of mental resilience: Control, Commitment, Challenge, and Confidence —using a blend of metaphors, Stoic wisdom, and powerful stories from history.
Think of your mind like a car: control is the steering wheel, commitment is the fuel, challenge is the terrain, and confidence? That’s your engine. From Helen Keller to Joan of Arc, you’ll see how legendary mental strength isn’t born—it’s built. Plus, learn why reacting to criticism like a calm kung-fu master might be your new superpower.
Mental toughness isn’t built in heroic moments; it’s forged in the quiet choice to show up again.
Reflect on where you place your power: inside or out?
Anchor your goals in systems, not wishful thinking.
Let difficulty be your teacher, not your warning sign.
If you’re ready to change how you see resilience, this episode will shift everything.
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Practice - https://www.eternalwellnesscounseling.com/
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: Science of Mental Toughness: Assess yourself using the 4 quadrants of resilience
Chapters:
00:00 The meaning in suffering
02:14 The 4 elements of mental toughness
02:47 Quadrant of control
07:13 Quadrant of commitment
10:59 Quadrant of challenge
16:02 Quadrant of confidence
20:56 Building mental toughness requires practice
26:57 Send off
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32:36
Nervous System Mastery: Build resilience, reduce stress and feel more yourself - w/ Esin Pinarli
There’s only so much logic you can apply to your problems, at some point you need to work with your biology.
The nervous system it an incredible organ built to help you survive and it can over-ride your conscious processing at will. To stop tripping over our barriers and build true resilience, reduce stress & feel more alive we need there is a way.
Working with your nervous system instead of against it.
On the show we invite Esin Pinarli a licensed therapist and expert in working with our nervous system to give us a masterclass on turning discomfort into growth.
Three Takeaways:
Your nervous system doesn’t want you to succeed—it wants you to survive.
Discomfort is a signal, not a stop sign.
You grow by expanding your window of tolerance, not by breaking through it.
Real personal growth doesn’t come from reading another book or “thinking positive.” It comes from your body. From doing the hard thing, just a little bit at a time. We talk about titration (small steps), edge surfing (riding discomfort), and how your brain actually rewires itself when you face fear—gracefully.
Turns out, the part of your brain responsible for willpower literally grows when you push yourself. This is about learning to stretch without snapping. To build a stronger relationship with yourself—one uncomfortable moment at a time.
Related Episodes
Neuroscience of Fear - Spotify - Apple
4 Hidden Fears sabotaging your life - Spotify - Apple
Stephen Porges: Polyvagal Theory and building inner peace - Spotify - Apple
Jessica Baum: Attachment theory and relationships - Spotify - Apple
Edge Surfing: How to slow down time - Spotify - Apple
Feedback
🧑🏫 Sam is launching a workshop for building certainty in an uncertain world
💬 Opinions here - https://form.jotform.com/250963827592368
Sponsors
🧪 Magic Mind - Mental performance shot -
50% off - https://MagicMind.com/GrowthEDU - code GROWTH50
🌱 Cozy Earth - Luxury bedding and loungewear
35% off - https//CozyEarth.com - code GROWTH
Upgrade to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
GrowthMindset.Supercast.com
Contact Esin
Practice - https://www.eternalwellnesscounseling.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/esin-pinarli-73ab1722/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/esinpinarli_lcsw/
Get in Touch
👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: Nervous System Mastery: Build resilience, reduce stress and feel more yourself - w/ Esin Pinarli
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to nervous system mastery
03:09 Defining Growth Mindset
04:16 The Science Behind Willpower
06:53 Skill Breaks and Titration
08:54 Metaphors for Growth
09:56 Understanding the Nervous System
11:47 Fear of Intimacy and Abandonment
13:49 The Duality of Human Nature
18:39 Hysterical = historical -> energy stored in body
19:36 How to discharge energy
21:16 Exercise as an antidepressant
23:30 Edge surfing and accepting growth
28:40 Magic Mind
30:14 Accepting this moment
31:46 Navigating co-dependant relationships and personal growth that affects relationships
37:17 What is Shame
38:52 The Role of Gratitude and Glimmers
44:28 The Journey of Self-Improvement
50:57 Extra content from Esin
52:22 Take homes
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1:00:34
The Science Behind Changing Your Mind (and how to build better taste)
The problem with being human is that we believe our version of truth is the truth.
Not because we’re bad—but because we’re wired that way.
This episode is a story of blindness. Not the kind you see—but the kind you don’t even know you have. You’re not as open-minded as you think.
That’s not an insult—it’s just how the brain works. We shortcut. We judge. We protect our ego like it’s a vintage vinyl.
In this episode, I dive into the strange ways our own minds trick us into thinking we're rational, original, and morally superior. I walk through how prejudice isn't just about race—it's about music, anger, taste, careers, and even your opinion of running. You’ll hear about blind spots in your day-to-day that quietly shape your reality, and how to start noticing them before they run the show.
Takeaways:
Why your opinions probably aren’t your own
Why improving your taste is more important than finding your passion
A simple trick to challenge your ego without bruising it
You can’t change the world if you can’t first question the lens you’re using to see it.
This episode won’t change your mind—you will.
Feedback
Sam is launching a workshop for building certainty in an uncertain world
Opinions here
https://form.jotform.com/250963827592368
Upgrade to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
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GrowthMindset.Supercast.com
Get in Touch
👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: The Science Behind Changing Your Mind (and how to build better taste)
Chapters:
00:00 You are wrong about a few things
02:19 Why is Prejudice So Hard to Notice
03:48 How Prejudice Happens
05:25 Lacking Awareness of What Change Would be Like
07:23 Communication
09:05 Where People Live
12:36 Lesson from Rick Rubin
13:22 Talent vs. Skill
16:05 The Issue of Feeling Special
17:34 3 Stories to Ground Yourself
17:48 1st - Being 1st isn't the best
20:33 2nd - other people's problems are also our problems.
22:27 3rd - Don't be A Racist
25:24 Send Off
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31:56
How to stop worrying about small problems that don't matter (and kill your perfectionist)
Ever notice how you'll curse for days when stuck in traffic but never celebrate hitting all green lights? Your brain's flaw-detection software is working overtime.
In our quest for the ideal—the perfect relationship, the flawless investment, the dream career—we often miss the opportunity to appreciate what's already working. This isn't about lowering standards; it's about recognizing diminishing returns and the opportunity costs of perfectionism.
Gratitude research shows that people who accept small imperfections actually experience more satisfaction and happiness. It's not about settling—it's about optimizing for what truly matters and recognizing the diminishing returns of chasing perfection.
Identify what's truly non-negotiable versus what's just a small cost of admission
See where you get stuck in diminishing returns of perfectionism and break out of the cycle
Reframe "tolerating flaws" as "accepting the whole, complex reality" of what you value
Ready to stop obsessing over small flaws and start enjoying the ride? Your ticket to a more satisfying life is waiting.
Feedback
Sam is launching a workshop for building certainty in an uncertain world
Opinions here
https://form.jotform.com/250963827592368
Related Episodes
How to stop catastrophising
Psychology of Control - Why your brain overcomplicated everything
How to build emotional intelligence
Upgrade to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
GrowthMindset.Supercast.com
Get in Touch
👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
🗣️ Feedback Form - Creating certainty in an uncertain world - https://form.jotform.com/250963827592368
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: How to stop worrying about small problems that don't matter (and kill your perfectionist)
Chapters:
00:00 Hardwired for problem seeking
00:55 Concept of paying the price of admission
01:23 Relationships
04:43 Stock markets
06:02 More examples
08:42 Gratitude and Game Theory
10:41 Perfectionism and diminishing returns
12:55 Martha Nussbaum and the Descent of Love
13:58 Positive and negative flywheels of gratitude and perfectionism
15:48 Chang Chang and the Broken Vase Garden
17:17 Send Off
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23:43
What creates lasting willpower and resilience: the 4 types of motivation
The psychology of mental strength and how to achieve your goals.
The path to extraordinary achievement isn't paved with enjoyment. It's built on something far more powerful: alignment with our deepest values.
Sustainable motivation comes not from the pleasure of the journey but from how we connect our actions to what matters most to us. This isn't about willpower or discipline—it's about meaning-making.
When we frame our challenges within the context of our personal values, we transform mundane or difficult tasks into meaningful steps toward who we wish to become. The student studying for exams, the entrepreneur facing rejection, the artist pushing through creative blocks—all can tap into this deeper well of motivation by connecting present struggles to future purpose.
Topics:
The real source of mental strength
4 exercises to build the right type of motivation
How to live closer to your values
What if your next challenge became not a test of endurance but an expression of who you are becoming?
Feedback
Sam is launching a workshop for building certainty in an uncertain world
Opinions here
https://form.jotform.com/250963827592368
Related Episodes
3 habits of mental strength
Psychology of Fear
How to build emotional intelligence
Upgrade to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
GrowthMindset.Supercast.com
Get in Touch
👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: What creates lasting willpower and resilience: the 4 types of motivation
Chapters:
00:00 Hiking through the coastal path of UK
01:58 Building a stronger mindset and unstoppable motivation
02:37 Nuances of human motivation
04:43 Extrinsic motivation examples
07:20 What drives people to continue
08:20 4 types of motivation
13:36 Identifying personal values
14:04 Eulogy method
15:30 Odyssey plan
16:49 Radical Path
17:53 Wheel of life
19:59 Aligning your actions with your values
24:33 Celebrate small wins
25:48 Seek feedback and reflect on it
27:03 Send off
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Sobre Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement
There are a lot of opinions on how to master your mind, but then there’s PSYCHOLOGY.
We’re all stuck with the brain we’re born with, but we aren’t stuck with how we use it.
Learn science-backed answers to make the most of your mind and your life.
CURIOUS?
Growth Mindset Psychology is the "self-help sceptic" podcast for the curious.
Whether you want to improve performance, navigate setbacks, or know who you are.
We find answers to the true science of self-improvement.
So put down the astrology chart and start working with your mind, instead of against it.
With over 8 million downloads and 60,000 monthly listeners, you’re invited to join.
PROCESS
Instead of telling you what to think, we discuss how thinking works.
Armed with a stack of science journals, textbooks and a boatload of curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of the mind.
Why? >>> Success is personal!
You might want to make the most of your neurodiverse strengths, start a business, or simply find more reasons to smile.
Hone your ability for independent thinking and growth with mental models to pursue your definition of success.
HOST
I’m Sam Webster Harris, a lifelong learner with ADHD, a raging curiosity, and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions.
After launching several businesses, travelling the world and nearly dying a few times I concluded that science and Psychology are where it’s at.
What actually makes people happy? What’s the best way to treat a brain? How can I get more done?
Studying the answers we find that changing behaviours requires building mindsets, mental models, and a healthy relationship with failure.
I run the show to help listeners enjoy nutritious content that feeds their minds (and I needed a legitimate excuse to cover for my reading addiction).
PREMIUM
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Support the show and access the AMA features and community Discord.
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ARCHIVE
Previous guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum.
Past series:
— Psychology vs Stoicism
— Time Management for busy mortals
— Independence and knowing yourself
— Cognitive biases and rational thinking
— Psychology of connection
— Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets
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