Building Mental Fortitude

I am in touch with chamber leaders weekly and I get the impression that most are experiencing a fair amount of stress these days. And it shouldn’t be surprising. It takes tremendous time, energy, and focus to manage the demographic shifts in membership, new dynamics in hybrid workplaces, advancements in new technologies, and an uncertain geopolitical trade forecast. Decision-making in such a chaotic environment can sometimes be paralyzing. It can feel like you're stuck in PERMAFROST—well, that’s this article’s acronym. An acronym for becoming more mentally fit for the demands of running a modern chamber of commerce.

Like other body muscles, train your brain for health and wellness.

Gratitude is an attitude.

What can you do to help yourself, your staff, and your volunteers become more resilient?

Martin Seligman is known as the godfather of positive psychology. In his Harvard Business Review article from April 2011, Building Resilience, he describes PERMA as the building blocks of resilience and growth. PERMA is practiced by the U.S. Army in its Master Resilience Training program for drill sergeants. Described as a theory of well-being, it includes these components:

• P – Positive emotion: When faced with adversity, choosing and cultivating gratitude, joy, and optimism fuels resilience.

• E – Engagement: When people find themselves deeply absorbed in meaningful work, stress becomes more manageable. It’s often referred to as being ‘in the flow’ – the now, not worrying about the past or anxious for the future

• R – Relationships: Positive relationships at home, work and with friends build happiness and buffers against burnout.

• M – Meaning: When chamber leaders tie their work to a larger purpose, they find greater fulfillment. For example, when faced with tough times, think about the small business owners you are supporting and the impact of your work on their families.

• A – Accomplishment: Setting and achieving goals builds confidence and keeps motivation high. Celebrating wins, even small ones is important to build momentum toward your goal.

But I think we can go further in ensuring mental toughness and resilience—especially in the chamber leadership space, where the expectations are high, and resources often feel scarce. That’s why I’m expanding on Seligman’s model by adding FROST to the equation.

FROST – The Chamber Leader’s Mental Toughness Playbook

• F – F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real):
  Fear often distorts reality, making obstacles appear bigger than they are. If you catch yourself catastrophizing—assuming the worst—pause and assess. Breathe. Get the facts. Is this really a threat, or is it just uncertainty? Reframe challenges as opportunities, and you’ll feel more in control.

• R – Run (or any other physical activity):
  Physical movement is a proven stress reliever. Whether it’s running, yoga, lifting weights, or even a brisk walk before a board meeting, movement helps reset your nervous system and boost mental clarity.

• O – Optimism (The Special Feeling):
  Optimism isn’t about ignoring challenges—it’s about believing in your ability to navigate them. Purposeful optimism, not blind optimism is key. Surround yourself with possibility thinkers, practice gratitude, be comfortable being uncomfortable and actively look for the win and what is under your control in tough situations.

• S – Sleep (The Foundation of Resilience):
  Chronic stress depletes mental fortitude, and sleep is the most powerful (and often neglected) remedy. Aim for quality sleep—good leaders don’t just power through exhaustion, they prioritize recovery.

• T – Tracking (Training Your Brain Muscle):
  What gets measured gets managed. Track your progress—not just your chamber’s financials, but also your well-being habits. Whether it’s journaling about daily wins, keeping a step count, or using an app to monitor mood patterns, tracking keeps you accountable and aware and helps train your brain, much like you curl weights to train biceps.

PERMAFROST: The Mental Resilience Model for Chamber Leaders

When you combine PERMA + FROST, you create a framework for sustained resilience—one that helps you make better decisions, maintain energy levels, and lead with confidence.

Being a chamber leader in today’s environment is demanding, but mental fortitude is a skill you can build. Start small. Choose one area of PERMAFROST to focus on this week, and notice how it impacts your leadership, your mindset, and your chamber’s momentum.