Resilience. Mental fortitude. Grit. These qualities often appear on posters or ring out in speeches from coaches in the world of sports, but fostering these qualities and developing them is tricky. But, once they are established in your makeup, they are present for the long haul. Let’s explore eight important habits that distinguish those who are mentally strong.
1. Embrace the Suck
Mentally tough individuals understand that discomfort is part of success (trust us, this idea comes from the military). It sounds corny, but it is true. Resilient people understand that challenging situations are nothing but a catalyst for personal growth. To overcome difficult tasks, it is important to flex your psychological muscles and really test yourself. Embracing the suck means knowing that something is going to be tough, but you keep at it.
2. Look in the Mirror
Mental strength often comes down to looking at yourself in the mirror and being honest about your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This practice of self-reflection is vital for growth and self-awareness. Self-examination is a tool that can help you question your values and create a more fulfilling life.
3. Building a Growth Mindset
A sure sign of mental toughness is a person who is dedicated to personal growth. A hallmark of mental toughness is the adoption of a growth mindset. Through hard work and constant evolution, people with a growth mindset learn and bounce back quickly from setbacks and negative outcomes. In addition, mentally strong people learn how to take feedback and persistently pursue their objectives.
4. Set SMART Goals
If you have never heard of SMART goals, well, lucky you. You are usually setting SMART goals on the job or some road on the career path. However, mentally tough people set SMART goals for their endeavors and goals. A smart goal is a goal that is specific, measurable, relevant, and time-bound. Mentally tough individuals can leverage this framework to give their life purpose direction and to goal-orient their time.
5. Get Your Emotions In Check
If you are going to be mentally strong, your emotions can’t get the better of you. Mental strength involves more than just thinking your way through a difficult situation, it means managing your emotions and regulating them. For every person, this may be different: deep breathing, meditation, or cognitive reframing to maintain composure during stress. By mastering your emotions, you can be calm enough to react with clarity under pressure.
6. Be Grateful
The mentally strong know that they can’t do things alone. Regularly practicing being grateful and appreciating the good and bad in life is evidence of a person who is resilient and aims for a balanced perspective. Furthermore, the person who can find the silver lining, and make lemonade from lemons, attracts other people. A person who is optimistic and grateful is a sure sign of a leader because they foster hope and strength.
7. Set Boundaries
Mentally strong individuals recognize that saying “no” to things that don’t align with their values or goals is crucial for preserving their mental energy and focus. As you get older, you realize that time is a commodity and it is previous. When you say “no” to people and don’t people please, you preserve your time to do things that you love. By maintaining healthy boundaries, they protect their time, energy, and emotional well-being.
8. Embrace Lifelong Learning
The final habit that sets mentally strong individuals apart is their commitment to lifelong education. No matter your field or where you want to go, it is important to stay curious and to challenge your own biases and assumptions. By embracing continuous learning, mentally tough people stay relevant, flexible, and resilient in the face of change.
Mental Strength Is a Journey
By adding these habits into your life and daily routine, you can flex your mental muscles. Just remember that mental fortitude and perseverance come through doing, so don’t pull out a notebook and write down a whole lot of stuff you plan to do. Start small. Try a new activity or put yourself in an uncomfortable situation, anything to get you to flex your muscles and build mental strength. Your journey to exceptional mental strength begins now!