The Beatles are one of the most popular and successful bands in history. The four-member English rock band became so influential that people coined the term ‘Beatlemania’ to refer to the fan frenzy.
Did you know that the Beatles faced rejection in the initial phase of their career? Decca Records, a leading recording label, felt that the band had no future in show business. This particular failure almost caused the band to break up.
But they decided to stay together and finally got their big break. Their persistence paid off and they sold over a million albums. The Beatles exhibited resilience and mental strength during challenging times.
Do you want to know how to increase your mental strength and become resilient as well? Read on!
What Is Mental Strength?
Mental strength is the capacity of individuals to effectively deal with setbacks and challenges. It’s a measure of individual resilience and confidence that predicts success in different walks of life. Mental strength requires you to manage your thoughts and emotions and stay positive even in adverse circumstances. A mentally strong person responds to setbacks and pressures but does not react to them.
In order to be strong mentally, we must prioritize our personal growth. We can live our best life when we try new things, take risks and learn to face any difficult situation that life may throw at us. By improving our self-esteem, social connections and outlook towards life, we can build resilience and confidence.
How To Become Mentally Strong
Developing mental strength is a long-term process that requires hard work and commitment. If you want to learn how to improve your mental strength, start by creating a healthy and positive outlook. Here are some tips on how to be mentally strong and resilient:
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Evaluate Your Core Beliefs
We develop certain beliefs about ourselves and the world around us that are known as core beliefs. These are born out of past experiences that influence our thoughts, behaviors and emotions. Our core beliefs shape our perspectives and responses. They can make challenges seem insurmountable and have a demotivating impact on us.
For example, if you believe that you always mess things up, you won’t take risks in life. On the other hand, if you believe that making mistakes is an essential part of growing and learning, you will not be dejected after making a mistake.
Modifying your core beliefs and challenging your perceptions can help you overcome your self-limitations.
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Stop Overthinking
When you think about something excessively, it drains your energy. It’s especially tough when you can’t stop having negative thoughts. Since the mind is the biggest contributor to energy levels, overthinking can exhaust you.
Learn how to manage your thoughts by letting go of the past and living in the present. Try to identify what may be influencing your negative thoughts. Replace pessimistic thoughts with productive thoughts by seeing the bright side of things. Remember, worrying is unproductive and pointless. When you face setbacks, don’t overthink them. Just get to work fixing them!
For example, you may not be able to finish your assignment on time, but you made substantial progress nonetheless. Focus on the positive and tell yourself you’ll do better next time.
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Practice Tolerating Discomfort
Being mentally strong doesn’t mean that you avoid unpleasant emotions altogether. In fact, mental strength lies in experiencing every emotion and choosing the best way to respond to it. It’s about making peace with your feelings without being controlled by them.
There will be times when you experience uncomfortable emotions. Remember, discomfort is often necessary for greater gains, and allowing it can help you get out of your comfort zone.
For example, if you aren’t comfortable speaking in front of a large audience, take small steps towards making the change. You can start by speaking up in meetings and communicating more often with your coworkers and peers.
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Track Your Sleep And Diet
Your lifestyle can have a huge impact on your mental strength. It’s easy to get caught up in your work and overlook the basic necessities in life. If you don’t monitor your eating and sleeping habits, you may develop unhealthy habits that cause a harmful effect in the long run.
A nutritious diet, exercise and adequate sleep are the three pillars of developing physical and mental strength. Make sure you take ample breaks from work and give yourself a chance to refresh. If you find it difficult to get enough sleep, take power naps when you can. Go for a brisk walk or listen to music even on the busiest days.
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Learn To Do Nothing
In her best-seller ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, Elizabeth Gilbert writes about an Italian expression, ‘la dolce far niente’, which means ‘the sweetness of doing nothing’. In today’s world, we constantly try to meet others’ expectations, remain productive and stay connected. It seems as though we’re always busy doing something.
Break this cycle whenever possible and find moments of silence and stillness. Spend time either doing absolutely nothing or doing simple things that make you happy. Define how to be mentally strong for yourself.
Conclusion
Choosing to develop skills that boost your mental strength and focus is a skill in itself. Harappa Education’s Leading Self course will help you get on the path to becoming the best version of yourself. You’ll learn how to take ownership of your actions and be open to learning new things. The Iceberg Model will help you identify and overcome self-limiting beliefs. Recognize your true potential and understand what holds you back with Harappa’s online courses. Don’t just ‘go’ through life, ‘grow’ through life!
Explore topics such as Self-Motivation, How to Self-Motivate, Types of Motivation & Self-Management from our Harappa Diaries section and lead on a path of self-development.