Overcoming difficult life events is one way to develop toughness. Another way is to keep the small promises you make to yourself. I'm going to wake up and run in the morning. Lace up your sneakers. I'm going to run a little further than I did yesterday. Sprint to the next stop sign. I'm going to stay off my phone before 5 p.m. Crack open a book instead. I'm going to call my parents on Sunday. Pick up the phone.

Difficult life events will occur without our coaxing. We will develop toughness as a result. In the short-term, a far less painful method to making ourselves a little tougher each day is doing the things we say we're going to do, even if no one is there to hear our promises and witness our commitment.