Being mentally strong is a process. You don’t take a pill to achieve it. You most certainly cannot buy it or fake it. It takes time and belief in oneself if you want to toughen up your mind.
Once you learned how to navigate your mind towards toughness, you also manage to control your spirit, emotions, behaviors, and even your physical capabilities as an individual. The mind is truly a powerful part of your body, hence the need to sharpen it up to make it an advantage for life’s adversities.
These are some of the most important qualities observed from mentally tough people that could be applied in your own life to achieve growth in every aspect:
- They Embrace Weaknesses
“Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.” – Oprah Winfrey
We all have our weaknesses which is perfectly normal because we are human beings. Oftentimes, our actions are even based on trial and error system, hence, we are bound to make mistakes at one point. But as a mentally tough individual, you fully acknowledge your flaws which in fact motivates you to become a better person.
A mentally strong person makes it a point to leave an area that he/she can fill in with new learning, therefore, there is constant growth. They don’t hide the weaknesses because they rise above it.
- They Accept Unpredictability
Mentally tough people do not dwell on ‘spilled milk’. Instead, they focus their energy on other things that could usher in progress.
Complaining is also not found in their vocabulary because they are literally doers. They don’t go round and round in circles trying to answer questions of the past. So if you want to be one, you have to learn how to deal with unpredictability of life.
- They Take Calculated Risks
“You’re probably not taking enough risk if it’s not hard and rocky sometimes.” – Marc Benioff, Founder and CEO of Salesforce
Because these people are certain of themselves as well as their objectives in life, they are willing to take a risk. Don’t be quick to judge because the risks that they pursue are always backed up with an informed decision.
Arriving at an informed decision means you were able to weigh and balance pros and cons of the circumstance. Also, take the time to consult experts on matters you don’t fully understand because their experience is integral to your success.
- They Can Patiently Wait
“Details matter. It’s worth waiting to get it right.” – Steve Jobs
Waiting is difficult and it tests your whole character. People with immense mental strength have the ability to delay gratification because they know that in making small sacrifices, they reap greater results in the future.
Investing teaches us how delayed gratification can help you reap huge benefits. For instance, if may be tempting to sell a stock when it takes an upturn, but you have to think about the great rewards you could get if you stand by your long-term goals.
- They are Willing to Try Again (and Again)
“If something is important you should try, even if the probable outcome is failure.” – Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO
Some people do not succeed in life because they just let life knock them down. On the other hand, mentally strong people are successful because they are not afraid of failure. Instead, they face failure head-on. They are armed with confidence due to the fact that they can always try again and bounce back stronger.
Life is harsh so don’t be harsh on yourself anymore. Strengthen your mind by training it to become resilient in times of defeat. Take the learning with you as you move forward.
- They Cultivate Rational Thinking
As humans, we are subjected to cognitive biases that affects our decision makings. There are a lot of factors like emotions, our relationships, commitments, and so on.
A mentally strong person cultivates a rational mind to combat these biases. How do you do it? It’s actually pretty simple – know your priorities and stick to your long term goals. No matter how tempting it is to change minds halfway through, be rational and make sure you are not persuaded by misleading factors.
“Outstanding long-term results are produced primarily by avoiding dumb decisions, rather than by making brilliant ones.” – Warren Buffet
- They Give Their 101%
Mentally tough people are like raging bulls. Their minds are programmed to attack life with such power believing that they can do the impossible. It is the opposite of a person who is always unsure of what directions he/she will take in life.
According to Navy SEAL Veteran, Ironman triathlete, and World Record holder David Goggins, the secret to achieving the “impossible” is that: “When your mind is telling you you’re done, you’re really only 40 percent done.” Which only means you can do more in life if you believe and give it your all.
A decade ago, if I decided to back-out on my goals to put up my own company, I will never know my place in the financial industry. So the moment you find your purpose, create your game plan, stick to it, and make sure that you will go all out for this vision to come into fruition.
