More of strength/ endurance is mental than you would first believe- back when I was just doing push ups and pull ups, if I'd done 40 push ups, I'd think `this is about what I normally do` and around then they'd feel even harder...so I'd stop.
One day I was feeling full of energy, so went to break my record, I'd never done 50, did that easily, then shot for 60, I got to almost 70, just by setting myself new goals as I was going- and shooting for the next one.