Long considered a critical element in obtaining optimal performance. Throughout childhood, we have been taught that being tough means pushing yourself until you break, and that displaying any signs of weakness is failure. This toughness role model has always been praised and lauded. But, the reality is that it fails. Olympic athlete coach Steve Magness now proposes a new sort of toughness?real toughness?that can aid everyone in overcoming difficulty and challenge. Real toughness is about being aware of your physiological, emotional, and psychological reactions (from pain to fury), and working with them to conquer a task. It is based on the most recent sports science and psychology. While fake toughness battles against our biology and psyche, real toughness cooperates with both.