On Becoming Mentally Strong
What makes a person mentally strong?
Perhaps the first thing that pops up in your head is intelligence. Some may even be on their scientist mode defining mental strength as being logical, or becoming rational. For others, it simply means the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.
You think I don't agree do you?
Of course I agree! Especially that intelligence is directly connected to becoming mentally strong.
Though, I want to put things rather "complicated' so let me put a touch of psychological make-up on becoming mentally strong to a whole new level.
***
How many of us battled with stress?
I'm sure everyone has. Every single one of us experienced this in different ways - or at least different people respond to it very differently.
Let me tell you a story.
A lecturer when explaining stress management to students raised a glass of water and asked;
How heavy is this glass of water?
Most answers that were called out ranged from twenty grams - fifty grams.
One person at the back stood up and bravely said;
The absolute weight of the glass doesn't matter.
It depends on how long you try to hold it. If you hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.
If you hold it for an hour, you'll have an ache in your hand. If you hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.
In each case, it's the same weight but the longer you hold it, the heavier it becomes.
The lecturer was shocked and since he was a Filipino, he said;
That's exactly the way it is with stress management, if we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on.
He added jokingly, "Uwi na tayo mga bes, may nanalo na. Masyadong ginalingan eh."
(Let's go home guys, he's too good for this!)
The crowd went ballistic and the person became an instant celebrity!
***
Mental strength is a lot like physical strength. You need to constantly train your body to achieve incredible physical endurance. Same is true with becoming mentally strong, we need to train our brain in creating healthy habits. We need to exercise our mental muscles every single day to grow stronger.
Coping with stress is stressful. But only if you think like that. In changing how we think, we put a chance for our brain to work its magic.
1. Practice gratitude
The perks of becoming thankful to everything are nearly endless. We can be thankful to a whole lot of things from waking up in the morning to sleeping at night. People who are grateful even for small things experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness and even have stronger immune system.
Amy Morin incredibly said that mentally strong people acknowledged everything they have and feel grateful for all things big and small.
You can start practicing gratitude by simply writing the things you're grateful about on a piece of paper.
Do a 30-day-challenge on becoming grateful and believe me, your views about life will be clearer and more positive. It will definitely be a good investment of your time.
Re-frame your negative thoughts and you'll absolutely have a stronger mentality.
2. Don't focus. Laser focus!
Let me tell you a story.
A lecturer when explaining stress management to students raised a glass of water and asked;
How heavy is this glass of water?
Most answers that were called out ranged from twenty grams - fifty grams.
One person at the back stood up and bravely said;
The absolute weight of the glass doesn't matter.
It depends on how long you try to hold it. If you hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.
If you hold it for an hour, you'll have an ache in your hand. If you hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.
In each case, it's the same weight but the longer you hold it, the heavier it becomes.
The lecturer was shocked and since he was a Filipino, he said;
That's exactly the way it is with stress management, if we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on.
He added jokingly, "Uwi na tayo mga bes, may nanalo na. Masyadong ginalingan eh."
(Let's go home guys, he's too good for this!)
The crowd went ballistic and the person became an instant celebrity!
***
Mental strength is a lot like physical strength. You need to constantly train your body to achieve incredible physical endurance. Same is true with becoming mentally strong, we need to train our brain in creating healthy habits. We need to exercise our mental muscles every single day to grow stronger.
Coping with stress is stressful. But only if you think like that. In changing how we think, we put a chance for our brain to work its magic.
"Change the way you think, and you will change your life."
Rick WarrenHere are a few quick tips on becoming mentally strong.
1. Practice gratitude
The perks of becoming thankful to everything are nearly endless. We can be thankful to a whole lot of things from waking up in the morning to sleeping at night. People who are grateful even for small things experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness and even have stronger immune system.
 |
| Photo Courtesy: The Road to Faith |
Amy Morin incredibly said that mentally strong people acknowledged everything they have and feel grateful for all things big and small.
You can start practicing gratitude by simply writing the things you're grateful about on a piece of paper.
Do a 30-day-challenge on becoming grateful and believe me, your views about life will be clearer and more positive. It will definitely be a good investment of your time.
Re-frame your negative thoughts and you'll absolutely have a stronger mentality.
2. Don't focus. Laser focus!
In the words of Bruce Lee, "The successful warrior is the average person with a laser-like focus.
Most of us, including myself tend to be distracted by things like the social media, our boss, and people around us. What separates them from us is their ability to really put their 100% attention to a thing they need to put focus on.
 |
| Image credit: Cris Winfield - Entrepreneur |
Make it a habit to wake up in the morning with a ritual.
Mine is to simply drink a glass of water, do several crunches and grab the book I'm reading for the week. I am doing that every single day without fail. And I noticed that I'm more focused in my daily activities.
Whatever ritual you may have, practice it religiously and you'll see for yourself how focus will develop over time.
And while you build your laser-like focus, you are also building a stronger mentality.
3. The Rule of Balance: Emotion and Logic
All human brains have an emotional and logical side because we come in different proportions. This explains why we have left and right brain. The left brain which is more pragmatic is the one responsible for our logical decisions. The right side of the brain on the other hand controls our emotions.
Here's the kicker: In making a decision, which of these two do we often use?
In a study made by Michael Levine, it is said that emotions drive 80% of the choices we make while practicality and objectivity only represent 20% of our decision-making.
Mentally strong people on the other hand knows that this is not always the case. Their mentality is so strong, they know they can't decide while they're hungry, angry, sad and extremely happy.
They play their cards well you know.
In every decision you make, do it when you're calm. And no matter the situation, do not let emotion overpower your intelligence or vice versa.
4. Use your mental energy wisely
Mine is to simply drink a glass of water, do several crunches and grab the book I'm reading for the week. I am doing that every single day without fail. And I noticed that I'm more focused in my daily activities.
Whatever ritual you may have, practice it religiously and you'll see for yourself how focus will develop over time.
And while you build your laser-like focus, you are also building a stronger mentality.
3. The Rule of Balance: Emotion and Logic
All human brains have an emotional and logical side because we come in different proportions. This explains why we have left and right brain. The left brain which is more pragmatic is the one responsible for our logical decisions. The right side of the brain on the other hand controls our emotions.
Here's the kicker: In making a decision, which of these two do we often use?
In a study made by Michael Levine, it is said that emotions drive 80% of the choices we make while practicality and objectivity only represent 20% of our decision-making.
Mentally strong people on the other hand knows that this is not always the case. Their mentality is so strong, they know they can't decide while they're hungry, angry, sad and extremely happy.
They play their cards well you know.
 |
| Image Courtesy: The Core of Attraction |
4. Use your mental energy wisely
"Tafasta merubeh, lo tafasta" Hebrew for, "Embrace too much, end up empty-handed.
Focus on the right thing.
I am a firm believer that writing everything in a piece of paper defines commitment on a whole new level.
Create your own "whitespace"; the time you set aside to refresh your thinking, strategize, reflect on your primary goals and gain perspective.
As Cris Winfield coined, all those others have just become the enemy of your focus. Their siren song will lure you onto the shores of distraction. Do not waste you time thinking about unnecessary which won't take you anywhere. Focus on those things that help you grow personally and professionally.
***
The choices we make everyday make us stronger. If you find yourself in a not-so-good situation, then something simple like going out and taking a lung-full of fresh air will definitely help. Having that fresh oxygen pumping through your lungs goes a long way in both your body as well as your mind.
There are plenty of ways on how to train your brain to become stronger. And sometimes, the solution to every problem or to stress isn't to do more, but to do less.
Focus on the right thing.
I am a firm believer that writing everything in a piece of paper defines commitment on a whole new level.
Create your own "whitespace"; the time you set aside to refresh your thinking, strategize, reflect on your primary goals and gain perspective.
As Cris Winfield coined, all those others have just become the enemy of your focus. Their siren song will lure you onto the shores of distraction. Do not waste you time thinking about unnecessary which won't take you anywhere. Focus on those things that help you grow personally and professionally.
***
The choices we make everyday make us stronger. If you find yourself in a not-so-good situation, then something simple like going out and taking a lung-full of fresh air will definitely help. Having that fresh oxygen pumping through your lungs goes a long way in both your body as well as your mind.
There are plenty of ways on how to train your brain to become stronger. And sometimes, the solution to every problem or to stress isn't to do more, but to do less.
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