1. Worry About Pleasing Others. Know any people pleasers? A mentally strong person strives to be
kind and fair and to please others where appropriate, but is unafraid to speak
up. They are able to withstand the possibility that someone will get upset and
will navigate the situation, wherever possible, with grace.
2. Shy Away from Change. Mentally
strong people embrace change and they welcome challenge. Their biggest “fear,”
if they have one, is not of the unknown, but of becoming complacent and
stagnant. An environment of change and even uncertainty can energize a mentally
strong person and bring out their best.
3. Waste Time Feeling Sorry for
Themselves. It can
never be seen people who are mentally strong are feeling sorry for their
circumstances or dwelling on the way they’ve been mistreated. They have learned
to take responsibility for their actions and outcomes, and they have an
inherent understanding of the fact that frequently life is not fair. They are
able to emerge from trying circumstances with self-awareness and gratitude for
the lessons learned. When a situation turns out badly, they respond with
phrases such as “Oh, well.” Or perhaps simply, “Next!”
4. Give Away Their Power. Mentally strong people avoid giving others the power to make them
feel inferior or bad. They understand they are in control of their actions and
emotions. They know their strength is in their ability to manage the way they
respond.
5. Resent Other People’s
Success. It takes
strength of character to feel genuine joy and excitement for other people’s
success. Mentally strong people don’t become jealous or resentful when others
succeed (although they may take close notes on what the individual did well).
They are willing to work hard for their own chances at success, without relying
on shortcuts.
6. Waste Energy on Things They
Can’t Control. Mentally
strong people don’t complain (much) about bad traffic, lost luggage, or
especially about other people, as they recognize that
all of these factors are generally beyond their control. In a bad situation,
they recognize that the one thing they can always control is their own response
and attitude, and they use these attributes well.
7. Make the Same Mistakes Over
and Over. We all
know the definition of insanity, right? It’s when we take the same actions
again and again while hoping for a different and better outcome than we’ve
gotten before. A mentally strong person accepts full responsibility for past
behavior and is willing to learn from mistakes.
8. Give Up After Failure. Every failure is a chance to improve. Even the greatest entrepreneurs
are willing to admit that their early efforts invariably brought many failures.
Mentally strong people are willing to fail again and again, and learning from
that again and again. As long as the learning experience from every “failure”
can bring them closer to their ultimate goals.
9. Expect Immediate Results. Whether it’s a workout plan, a nutritional regimen, or starting a
business, they are “in it for the long haul”. They know better than to expect
immediate results. They apply their energy and time in measured doses and they
celebrate each milestone and increment of success on the way. They have
“staying power.” And they understand that genuine changes take time.
9. Fear Alone Time. Mentally strong people enjoy and even treasure the time they spend
alone. They use their downtime to reflect, to plan, and to be productive. Most
importantly, they don’t depend on others to shore up their happiness and moods.
They can be happy with others, and they can also be happy alone.
