This post is based on the book “13 things mentally strong people don’t do” by Amy Morin. Particularly during these challenging times, improving our mental strength is more important than ever so we hope you find it useful.
Firstly, let’s look at the characteristics of mentally strong people, they:
- Replace self-pity with gratitude – grateful people tend to have healthier immune systems, exercise more frequently, sleep better and enjoy a better general standard of health.
- Hold onto their power and forgive others – they refuse to delegate the power over their lives to others. They don’t hold grudges – negative emotions limit your own ability; all you’re doing is giving more power over to that person to disrupt your life.
- Are always ready to embrace change.
- Don’t get distracted by things that they can’t control.
- Are prepared to displease other people and are more focused on listening to themselves than to the concerns of others.
- Are not afraid of taking calculated risks. They will seek to minimise risks and always carefully analyse the nature of the risk itself.
- Come to terms with the past.
- Avoid repeating the same mistakes.
- Don’t envy other people’s success but rather seek to collaborate with them.
- Don’t give up easily. They are self-compassionate about failure. They persevere and treat failures as stepping stones to something greater.
- Are comfortable being alone. Taking quiet time to rejuvenate, inspire and reflect.
- Are not entitled. They concentrate on giving rather than taking.
- Recognise that achievements take time and that progress isn’t always immediately apparent.
- Don’t have unrealistic expectations or goals.
A key theme with mental strength is discipline.
- Keep your eyes on the goal.
- Make a list of all the reasons you don’t want to repeat the mistakes you’ve made in the past.
- Restrict yourself and make it harder to make mistakes.
- Don’t think that change is easy.
- Don’t create a fixed deadline to reach your goal.
- Don’t think achieving your goal will make your life suddenly wonderful.
Perhaps set yourself a goal to practice and create the habit of discipline:
- Decide on concrete, daily changes in your behaviour that will help you reach your goal.
- Create a list of anticipated hurdles along the way.
- Create accountability.
- Measure progress.
The greatest levels of happiness are achieved by people who take steps to steer their life in the direction they want, while at the same time accepting the things that they cannot control.
Tips to increase your mental strength and get more out of life
- Refrain from feeling sorry for yourself.
- Never give your power away to others.
- Embrace change.
- Avoid fretting about things you cannot control.
- Stop worrying about pleasing everyone.
- Never be afraid of taking risks but be clever about which risks you take.
- Resist the urge to dwell on the past.
- Make sure never to make the same mistake twice.
- Never be resentful of other people’s success.
- Keep at it and never give up after an initial failure.
- Face your fears of being alone – overcome them.
- Be on your guard for feelings of entitlement.
- Never expect immediate results. Be patient.
You can become your own mental strength coach
- Monitor how you’re behaving.
- Play close attention to your feelings.
- Examine your thoughts.
