As the author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, I usually spend my time talking about the bad habits that rob you of mental strength. After all, it only takes one bad habit to hold you back from reaching your greatest potential. But in addition to giving up those bad habits, it’s also important to perform exercises that strengthen your mental muscle, because with hard work and dedication, you can train your brain to perform at its peak.
Here are 9 ways mentally strong people do it:
1. They practice gratitude.
Counting their blessings instead of their burdens helps mentally strong people keep life in perspective. Their choice to be grateful shines through in their mood and behavior.
2. They retain their personal power.
Mentally strong people don’t give negative people power over them. They refuse to blame anyone for holding them back or dragging them down.
3. They accept challenges.
Mentally strong people view adversity as an opportunity to grow stronger. With each obstacle they overcome, they gain confidence in their ability to become better.
4. They focus on the things they can control.
Mentally strong people stay productive and effective by focusing on the things they can control. Rather than waste their energy worrying about whether a storm will come, they invest their efforts into preparing for it the best they can.
5. They set healthy boundaries.
Creating healthy emotional and physical boundaries gives mentally strong people the room they need to grow. They’re willing to say no, even if it means disappointing others.
6. They take calculated risks.
Mentally strong people balance their emotions with logic to calculate the risks they face. They’re willing to step outside their comfort zone and seek opportunities that will help them reach their goals.
7. They make peace with the past.
Mentally strong people reflect on the past so that they can learn from it, but they don’t dwell on it. They refuse to live a life of regret, and they are able to let go of grudges.
8. They learn from their mistakes.
Mentally strong people focus on learning from their mistakes. They accept full responsibility for their behavior and choose to move forward in a productive manner.
9. They create their own definition of success.
Rather than resent other people’s good fortune, mentally strong people feel free to share in their joy. They recognize that other’s achievements don’t diminish their own.
Interested in learning how to build mental strength? Sign up for my online course Mental Strength Mastering the 3 Core Factors.
Watch my TEDx talk: The Secret to Becoming Mentally Strong.
This article first appeared on Inc.
