I’ve been fascinated by the notion, often mentioned by rugby commentators, that some forwards have mastered the dark art of scrumming. My observations suggest they might be right. This led me to research whether there are similar “dark arts” in mental toughness.

My findings indicate that accessing the dark arts of mental toughness begins with unlearning some preconceptions. This involves using critical thinking to ask yourself questions like, “Why do I think what I think?” and “Why do I believe what I believe?” Listen to the answers and be willing to change your mind. As George Bernard Shaw said, “Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”

The next step is to relearn. This starts with proper research, like my own exploration into the existence of the dark arts of mental toughness. It’s important to distinguish between searching and researching. If you simply Google search, you’ll get algorithm-driven answers that reinforce your existing biases. Research, on the other hand, uses a methodology that guards against biases and presents multiple possibilities. This is the start of unlocking what you don’t know because, as they say, we don’t know what we don’t know.

Next, accept that science generates new knowledge faster than society creates wisdom. Thus, it’s essential to tap into technology to help sort through this new information. Currently, this likely means using AI tools like ChatGPT.

A signpost of progress is being willing to embrace Alain De Botton’s idea: “If you are not embarrassed by the person you were a year ago, the chances are you are not learning fast enough.” At this point, you are opening the treasure chest of the unknown and are on your way to accessing the dark art of mental toughness.

Best wishes

Steve