--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always prided myself on being…" description: "\"I've always prided myself on being mentally tough, but just because you're mentally tough doesn't mean that what's going on between your ears is always..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/michael-chiesa-6449_always_i-ve-always-prided-myself-on-being-menta_461401.jpg" --- # I've always prided myself on being mentally tough, but… ![“I've always prided myself on being mentally tough, but just because you're mentally tough doesn't mean that what's going on between your ears is always good things.” quote by Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/michael-chiesa-6449_always_i-ve-always-prided-myself-on-being-menta_461401.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/michael-chiesa-6449_always_i-ve-always-prided-myself-on-being-menta_461401.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/michael-chiesa-6449_always_i-ve-always-prided-myself-on-being-menta_461401.jpg) > “I've always prided myself on being mentally tough, but just because you're mentally tough doesn't mean that what's going on between your ears is always good things.” [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mental toughness alone doesn't guarantee healthy thoughts; self-awareness is needed to manage inner dialogue. **In simple terms:** Being strong mentally isn’t enough if thoughts are harmful. Key Takeaway Cultivate mental hygiene alongside toughness. Themes mental health self‑awareness resilience Mood reflective determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - combat sports - high‑stress jobs - personal growth Key Concepts cognitive bias emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - How do you check the quality of your thoughts? - What practices keep your mind healthy? A Different Perspective Mental toughness can mask harmful thinking patterns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Just Mentally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-mentally-2356255/) [Mentally tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentally-tough/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Prided Mentally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prided-mentally-4007103/) [Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough/) [Tough Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough-doesn-360391/) ## Related quotes > [I don't need therapy, I'm just mentally ill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-don-t-need-therapy-i-m-just-mentally-ill/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [Koeman's a good guy. He can be tough. He doesn't shout but he passes the message on in a strong way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-wanyama/koeman-s-a-good-guy-he-can-be-tough-he-doesn-t-shout-but-he-passes/) [Victor Wanyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-wanyama/) > [It doesn't matter how tough you are. It doesn't matter how smart you are or what a great leader you are. None of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/it-doesn-t-matter-how-tough-you-are-it-doesn-t-matter-how-smart-you/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) > [I mean he's a very famous director... they're not going to put their... and he's very tough, he doesn't like interference at all, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-harwood/i-mean-he-s-a-very-famous-director-they-re-not-going-to-put-their-and/) [Ronald Harwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-harwood/) > [“Life is tough, but it doesn't have to be complicated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-w-allison/life-is-tough-but-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-complicated/) [Calvin W. Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-w-allison/) > [Being mentally tough is having to battle those demons and push yourself out of your comfort zone and force yourself to be the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/being-mentally-tough-is-having-to-battle-those-demons-and-push/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [Fighting teaches you a lot about yourself. When you fight you are in a situation where failure can happen. This chance of failure forges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-hudson/fighting-teaches-you-a-lot-about-yourself-when-you-fight-you-are-in-a/) [Daniel Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-hudson/) > [You've got to be mentally tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/you-ve-got-to-be-mentally-tough/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) > [You can make all the excuses you want, but if you're not mentally tough and you're not prepared to play every night, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/you-can-make-all-the-excuses-you-want-but-if-you-re-not-mentally/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [Solo parenting is harder than Premier football. It's mentally tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-bridge/solo-parenting-is-harder-than-premier-football-it-s-mentally-tough/) [Wayne Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-bridge/) > [Something that I take a lot of pride in is my toughness, my ability to be physically and mentally tough, I think that's critical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jones/something-that-i-take-a-lot-of-pride-in-is-my-toughness-my-ability-to/) [Daniel Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jones/) > [Bavaro's probably as tough of a - physically and mentally as tough a football player as I've ever coached. So, I would put him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-belichick/bavaro-s-probably-as-tough-of-a-physically-and-mentally-as-tough-a/) [Bill Belichick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-belichick/) > [We're so trained to be 'mentally tough,' in sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/we-re-so-trained-to-be-mentally-tough-in-sports/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [Our generation, we grew up in being prepared for a career physically and ability wise, but it wasn't there mentally. It was tough love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-fletcher/our-generation-we-grew-up-in-being-prepared-for-a-career-physically/) [Darren Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-fletcher/) > [You have to stay focused and be mentally tough. That's what I've really learned: every day is a grind, and you have to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gronkowski/you-have-to-stay-focused-and-be-mentally-tough-that-s-what-i-ve/) [Chris Gronkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gronkowski/) ## More by Michael Chiesa > [I've always just been this hairy, wild man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-ve-always-just-been-this-hairy-wild-man/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [Anytime I've won a fight and asked for an opponent, I've usually gotten it, and that's because it's all well thought-out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/anytime-i-ve-won-a-fight-and-asked-for-an-opponent-i-ve-usually/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [I won my fight on 'The Ultimate Fighter,' my dad died the next day and I stayed in the game and won the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-won-my-fight-on-the-ultimate-fighter-my-dad-died-the-next-day-and-i/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [My path leads to a world title.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/my-path-leads-to-a-world-title/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [I will be the UFC lightweight champion. Mark my words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-will-be-the-ufc-lightweight-champion-mark-my-words/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [I don't take a guy down just to hold him, I look for damage and submissions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-don-t-take-a-guy-down-just-to-hold-him-i-look-for-damage-and/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [I think the Eddie Alvarez fight is a good fight that makes sense - a couple Italian guys throwing down. I've got nothing but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-think-the-eddie-alvarez-fight-is-a-good-fight-that-makes-sense-a/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [Mario Yamasaki should just crawl in a hole and never step inside of any type of professional mixed martial arts event. He should never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/mario-yamasaki-should-just-crawl-in-a-hole-and-never-step-inside-of/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [I really feel like going up to 170, I'm going to really be able to show my skill set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-really-feel-like-going-up-to-170-i-m-going-to-really-be-able-to/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [I'm in this sport to test myself. I want to see how far I can take this thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-m-in-this-sport-to-test-myself-i-want-to-see-how-far-i-can-take/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [I feel blessed that I have a tough opponent in Justin Lawrence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-feel-blessed-that-i-have-a-tough-opponent-in-justin-lawrence/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [I've got to become 'The ultimate Ultimate Fighter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-ve-got-to-become-the-ultimate-ultimate-fighter/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [If you win one fight in the UFC, you're good. If you win two in a row, you're great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/if-you-win-one-fight-in-the-ufc-you-re-good-if-you-win-two-in-a-row/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [I train great outside of camp but then once camp starts, it's just a constant weight cut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-train-great-outside-of-camp-but-then-once-camp-starts-it-s-just-a/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [I finish every fight. And if I don't finish and go to a decision, I win 10-8 rounds. How many guys do you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-finish-every-fight-and-if-i-don-t-finish-and-go-to-a-decision-i-win/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) [Explore all 99 Michael Chiesa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always prided myself on being mentally tough, but just because you're mentally tough doesn't mean that what's going on between your ears is always good things.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Chiesa" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-ve-always-prided-myself-on-being-mentally-tough-but-just-because/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-ve-always-prided-myself-on-being-mentally-tough-but-just-because/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/michael-chiesa-6449_always_i-ve-always-prided-myself-on-being-menta_461401.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/michael-chiesa-6449_always_i-ve-always-prided-myself-on-being-menta_461401.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/michael-chiesa-6449_always_i-ve-always-prided-myself-on-being-menta_461401.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've always prided myself on being mentally tough, but just because you're mentally tough doesn't mean that…” — Michael Chiesa", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michael Chiesa", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've always prided myself on being...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-ve-always-prided-myself-on-being-mentally-tough-but-just-because/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-ve-always-prided-myself-on-being-mentally-tough-but-just-because/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```