"True strength is the courage to admit weakness." Show me an athlete who is afraid to look bad, silly or stupid, and I'll show you an athlete who will lose every time. Vulnerability is a hot theme nowadays, and rightfully so. It's the first step, and arguably most challenging, in facing our fears. It's an extension of the "awareness" phase, where we admit to ourselves (and potentially others), that we have soft spots. And much like many other aspects in life, awareness is everything. Gone are the days where "toughness" is summarized with gritted teeth and bad attitudes. Real mental toughness is facing the demons, the skeletons in the closet, the soft spots, and going on the attack. Show me an athlete who is "willing" to look bad, silly, or stupid, and I'll show you a very powerful competitor.