6 ways to be mentally strong and brave in life (2023)

Sometimes the world can be a difficult place.

At some point in your life, you may be faced with a seemingly endless barrage of obstacles, challenges, doubts, and negativity.

These battles can be exhausting, but your only option is to persevere.

While it is okay to reevaluate your values ​​and change your goals in the face of adversity, such decisions should not be made out of fear, and you should not give up.

To firmly resist the conflicts, obstacles and threats of life, it is necessary to develop mental strength.

So what does this term "mental toughness" mean?

Mental toughness is the ability to withstand anything thrown at you. It is knowing not to be afraid of adversity.

More importantly, this term does not imply tacit acceptance or resignation to the sufferings of life; In fact, it's the opposite.

A mentally strong person will meet life's challenges when the need arises, but they will always learn from them, overcome them, and do whatever it takes to turn them to their advantage.

Ideally, a mentally strong person can avoid many problems in the first place by standing up for their beliefs and finding a better solution for themselves and their loved ones.

While some people may make positive or negative value judgments about you in relation to this trait, the true value of mental toughness lies in its ability to empower you to live your life on your terms.

So if you want to know how to be mentally strong, let's take a look at these six helpful tips to achieve that goal.

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1. Face the worst possible outcome.

We often freeze in fear at the thought of failure, but how bad will it be? Inpsychology today, notes Theo Tsaousides, an accomplished neuropsychologist, that it is important to distinguish between real threats and imagined threats.

Drowning and starvation are real threats, but in most cases the fear of ridicule and failure is not. If you don't enter your name for this promotion, you probably won't get it.

However, if you write your name, what's the worst that could happen? Realistically, the worst that could happen is that you don't get the job.

Sure, you can imagine a scenario where you bombard the interview in front of a panel of your peers, everyone looks at you disapprovingly, and the company laughs at you. However, it just won't work that way. Sure, there may be some momentary embarrassment or embarrassment, but that feeling will fade.

Compared to the prospect of a higher salary, better benefits, and all that comes with a promotion, you have a lot to gain and almost nothing to lose.

However, let's play devil's advocate and pretend that if you screw up the interview and become the laughing stock of the company, it will end in the most horrible way.

If that were the case, wouldn't that say more about the people around you? People may judge you, laugh at you, and try to tear you down, but that doesn't speak to your worth at all, just your lack of morality and social grace.

If anything, such a poor result would indicate that you are in a toxic work environment and should be looking for something better. While your specific challenge may be different than this example, there is almost always more to gain than lose in facing such obstacles.

Your imagined worst-case scenario probably won't materialize, but you may still find a silver lining if it turns out that way.

2. Develop self-esteem and confidence.

Do you want to know how to be mentally strong? Surround yourself with people who love and respect you. While you shouldn't base your self-worth on what others think, you can still be empowered by kind words and kind people.

By surrounding yourself with friends and family who appreciate you, treat you well, and care about what you have to say, you will find that you are much happier and more mentally secure. As for people who don't treat you with respect, you should do everything you can to limit contact or stop them altogether.

See also:10 habits to be your most confident self

3. Recognize bullying and abusive behavior.

Unfortunately, the world is full of bullies, scammers, and abusers. They can be hard to face or get away from and they will do anything to keep their punching bag.

They trust their victims to be afraid and don't know how not to be afraid. Also, they will try to make you believe that what they are doing is not wrong and will even try to claim that you are a bad person for blaming them in the first place.

Don't listen to them! If you feel something is wrong, stand your ground and do something to change the situation.

When someone insults you, crosses your boundaries, threatens you, or ignores your basic needs, that is abusive behavior or bullying. If it's just a friend doing these things, then you need to cut that person out of your life. If it's your boss or coworker, document everything before you confront him.

If it is a spouse or family member, you should contact the proper authorities and create an escape plan immediately. Otherwise these people will keep trying to push your limits and it could end horribly.

Incdc.gov, the CDC notes that about a quarter of American women have experienced physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, or psychological assault at the hands of an intimate partner; it is so common that it could easily happen to you.

4. Don't delay.

It's okay to reflect on your mistakes, missed opportunities, traumas, and other negative things from time to time, but don't overdo it.

While meditating on these issues can be a good way to reflect or grieve in a healthy way, it's important not to spend too much time on the negative.

Otherwise, you could become bitter and worry about all the negative things in your life. If you find yourself obsessed with a specific negative thought, you should talk to someone you trust or see a psychologist to help you deal with it.

5. Set reasonable goals.

Achievable goals are the key to mental self-confidence. After all, it's hard to believe in yourself when you're not achieving anything.

According to research by Elliot T. Berkman inncbi.nlm.nih.govSuccessfully meeting goals requires both a willingness to change and an effective way to achieve those goals.

To be successful, you must set goals that are relevant, measurable, and achievable. You might be tempted to aim for the stars, but if you don't think you can achieve those goals, then lower the bar.

These are your goals, not someone else's, so there is no shame in setting them to a point where they are realistically achievable.

Sure, your goal of drinking less than nine margaritas a week might seem like a low bar to someone who doesn't drink margaritas at all, but if that number is the most effective and achievable for you, then it shouldn't matter.

After all, it's about self-improvement, not bragging rights enhancement. At the end of the day, nine margaritas is still an improvement over ten or twelve.

Once you've demonstrated your ability to succeed in achieving this goal, you'll feel more confident when you try to raise the bar or achieve anything else.

6. Reward yourself.

Facing your problems takes courage, and you shouldn't take your success for granted. If you decide to tell that bully, treat yourself to something nice. Even if it doesn't end well, it took courage to take that photo.

When you've finally found the perfect daycare for your child, plan a fun night with your friends to celebrate their hard work.

While it may seem unnecessary or wasteful to reward yourself for things you consider to be mundane, you are your greatest asset and closest confidant, so every once in a while you deserve something special to reward your hard work and, of course, your mental toughness.

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