Season 1 — Episode 7Building Mental Toughness the RIGHT Way

Everyone talks about wanting mentally tough kids — but too many of us grew up believing toughness meant shutting up, pushing feelings down, and pretending nothing hurt. That kind of “toughness” may have helped some of us survive… but it left a lot of men numb, angry, disconnected, and carrying emotional scars they never learned how to heal.

In this episode of Lead From The Line, Coach Mak breaks down what real mental toughness actually looks like — and how to build it in your kids without breaking their spirit in the process.

This isn’t about yelling louder.
It’s not about shaming, intimidating, or “hardening” your child.

It’s about helping them learn how to feel big emotions without being controlled by them. It’s about teaching them how to breathe in pressure, reset after failure, and step back in with belief instead of fear. Through powerful stories, real sideline moments, and honest reflection, this episode shows how the moments after mistakes can either crush a child… or build resilience that lasts for life.

• The difference between emotional shutdown and true toughness

• How old-school “man up” parenting quietly damaged generations

• Why mental toughness isn’t about removing emotion — but learning to manage it

• The sideline moments that either build or break confidence

• Practical ways to teach your child how to reset after mistakes

• How your tone, your patience, and your presence shape their strength

Mental toughness isn’t about raising a kid who never struggles.
It’s about raising a kid who knows what to do when struggle shows up.

If you want to raise emotionally strong, resilient, grounded young men who don’t just look tough on the outside but are steady on the inside, this episode will give you the tools — and the reminder — that it starts with how we lead.

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In this episode, Coach Mak covers: