Are you someone who knows what you want in life and understands the steps needed to get there? Do you give yourself pep talks to get pumped up for a long run, an important presentation at work or some other big challenge? Do you learn from your mistakes? If these are some of your personal traits, you may be among those considered as mentally strong people.
Mentally strong people embrace healthy habits that help foster their mental strength in hopes of performing at their best, under any circumstance. They avoid situations, actions or bad habits that zap their mental energy and don’t bring them any close to what they want to achieve or who they want to be.
Here is a list of the traits and characteristics of individuals who are considered to be mentally strong people. How many can you relate with?
1. You Don’t Fret Over Things You Can’t Control
Individuals who are mentally strong don’t fret over situations that are beyond their control or are just happenstance. They don’t waste emotional energy lamenting over a flat tire, lost luggage at the airport or an unexpected bad weather. Instead, they simply accept it as not in their control and move on to things they can influence.
2. You Never Make the Same Mistake Twice
There’s a well-known 18th- century proverb that goes “Fool me once shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” Mentally strong people learn from their failures and mistakes and don’t make them again. They accept responsibility and use that information to ensure a different outcome next time.
For example, if your idea for the next big start-up company fails fabulously, you get up and try again, incorporating the lessons you’ve learned. Studies show those with the ability to reflect on mistakes and learn from them are often successful later in life.
3. You Don’t Dwell On the Past
People with mental strength prefer to focus forward instead of dwelling of missed opportunities or past glory days. They use that experience to focus their mental energy toward creating the positive and successful future they envision.
4. You Don’t Waste Time on Self-Pity
Mentally strong individuals don’t dwell in self-pity and don’t waste time feeling sorry for themselves. They accept responsibility for their actions and understand that life can be unfair, even when you try your best. Simply put, they take the lemons and make lemonade, preferring to focus on the positive aspects of the situation. If they start feeling down on themselves, they immediately pick themselves up with a pep talk.
5. You’re Ready to Do It All On Your Own
You likely have a strong mental attitude if you believe that you’ll be successful on your own merits and that the world doesn’t owe you anything. You’re not looking for a handout or a hand up. Instead, you just want to make it on your terms. You know the playing field may not always be even, but you have an idea of how you can succeed and are willing to follow that plan.
6. You Accept Challenges
Another proverb says “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” For mentally strong people, this means they accept challenges and opportunities despite the obstacles or adversity ahead. These go-getters don’t shy away from change and welcome the opportunity for a chance of pace that keeps them from becoming complacent or predictable. They create opportunities for themselves by putting themselves in situations that push them to new experiences.
7. You Welcome Your Time Alone
People with mental strength welcome every chance to be alone so that they can think, write, meditate, plan, relax and reflect. They are neither afraid of solitude nor of talking to themselves to work out problems, situations and issues. Their ability to be content alone or with a room full of people shows the flexing power of their mental strength.
8. You Call Your Shots
Mentally strong people don’t give others power over them to make them feel incompetent or inferior. They understand they’re the masters of their actions, and avoid situations where negative people are given the opportunity to judge them. They have a keen sense of interpersonal relationships and can spot situations to avoid.
9. You Feel Genuine Joy for the Success of Others
Those with high mental character celebrate the success of others instead of resenting them. They feel genuine excitement for the accomplishment of others. They want to learn how it was done so that they can apply those actions to help foster their success.
Mentally strong people also openly express their gratitude to others for their help. They’re not afraid to acknowledge that they couldn’t do it all on their own and welcome the opportunity to celebrate shared success.
10. You Are an Optimist and a Realist
Those considered to be mentally strong refuse to be pessimistic about anything, but are realistic about situations, too. They tend to look on the bright side of things, while they are aware of not being overconfident about them. Their belief in themselves and their abilities are what makes them optimists.
11. A Little Pain is Okay
Mentally strong people are not afraid of physical pain that comes with helping them achieve physical accomplishments, such as running a marathon, climbing a mountain or learning mixed martial arts. Their self-discipline keeps them focused on the main goal, allowing them to tolerate tired legs or bruised arms along the way. As German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said in 1888: “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.”
12. You Take Calculated Risks
As someone with strong mental capabilities, you don’t fear taking calculated risks after weighing all sides of the situation. You’re able to see both the negative and positive outcomes, and have a realistic expectation of your capabilities and what’s at stake. You’re fine with leaving your comfort zone, if that’s what is needed.
13. You Practice Patience
Those with high mental strength practice patience and don’t expect immediate results, no matter the situation. They are in it for the long run and have the right attitude to see it through successfully. This type of “staying power” is a character of small business entrepreneurs, who have long-term goals and visions for their start-up.
14. You Don’t Take Sides
Mentally strong people strive to be fair and considerate to others but do not go out of their way to please or upset anyone. Their strength of character allows them to be kind but assertive when the situation calls for. They handle delicate situations with tact and grace for the best outcome possible.
15. You’re Comfortable Saying No, too
Your strong cognitive abilities allow you to comfortably create the physical and emotional boundaries you need to grow. That means sometimes you’ll say no to things that others might expect you to take on. You have a healthy understanding of your limits and tolerance, and aren’t afraid to push back to get the space you need to be at your best.
16. You Follow Your Values
Mentally strong people follow their beliefs and stay true to their values. They follow the beat of their own drum, even if it may be out of sync with others. These people are not swayed by peer pressure or popularity. Instead, they are driven by their ideas of what needs to be done and how it should be accomplished.
Are You Mentally Strong?
As described above, there are many characteristics and personality traits that are attributed to individuals who are considered mentally strong. These people don't live in the past and don’t make the same mistake twice. They also embrace challenges and don’t worry about things beyond their control.
Mentally strong people welcome the opportunity to be alone but are equally comfortable celebrating the success and assistance of others. These individuals know what they want and how they want to accomplish their goals. They’re not afraid of hard work to make it on their own. Having mental strength also means taking calculated risks that are tempered with realism and optimism. These people also have long-term goals in mind, and have the patience to see the job through to the end.
Admittedly, we would be hard-pressed to find those who fit all of these traits, both at home or at work. The real reason for describing what makes us mentally strong is so you can take a quick self-assessment and see how many traits you identify with.
Knowing what you’re doing well on and what you could improve on is the first step toward measuring your overall mental well-being. The goal isn’t to achieve every single trait on the list. Rather, it is to have you recognize what these common characteristics are so you can understand and share with others what it means to be among mentally strong people.