22 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do

Life has a way of testing your mental strength (also known as emotional intelligence) when you least expect it. The real sign of mental strength is not in what you are doing. It’s what you don’t and absolutely won’t do. In other words, the demonstration of strength lies in what mentally strong people don’t do.

The greater the challenge, the more difficult it is to respond with mental strength.

In business, there are times when you need to be mentally acute to make difficult decisions. In leadership, there are times when you have to be mentally difficult to navigate through complex information.

In this writing, you will get to understand the things mentally strong people don’t do, so that you can start training yourself to become mentally strong.

There are times in life when you need to be mentally keen to make good decisions quickly.

In these times, you have to be mentally strong. That means managing your emotions, adjusting your thinking, and taking positive action no matter the circumstances.

But like any physical strength, it’s not just mental strength that happens either. It has to be developed.

How do I know if I am mentally strong?
What are the things mentally strong people don’t do?

How do I know if I am mentally strong?

Mentally strong people are flexible and constantly adapt. They know that fear of change is paralyzing and a great threat to their success and happiness. They look for changes that are just around the corner and form a plan of action should those changes occur.

Mentally strong people have healthy habits. They manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in such a way that they are equipped for success in life.

What are the things mentally strong people don’t do?

Let’s explore the things that things mentally strong people don’t do so that you too can get stronger.

1. They don’t concern themselves with mistakes

Mentally tough people know that the place where you focus your attention determines your emotional state. When you focus on the problems you are facing, you create and prolong negative emotions and stress, which affects performance.

When you focus on actions to improve yourself and your circumstances, you create a sense of personal effectiveness that evokes positive emotions and improves performance.

Mentally tough people distance themselves from their mistakes, but they do so without forgetting about them. By keeping their mistakes at a safe distance and still being practical enough to relate to, they can adapt and prepare for future success.

2. They don’t hang out with negative people

Negative people are bad news because they wallow in their problems and do not focus on solutions. They want people to join their compassion party so they can feel better.

People often feel pressured to listen to negative people because they don’t want to be viewed as callous or rude, but there is a fine line between giving someone a sympathetic ear and immersing themselves in their negative emotional spiral.

Emotionally intelligent people avoid getting drawn in by setting boundaries and distancing themselves from negative people when necessary.

3. They don’t stop believing in themselves

Mentally strong people persevere. They don’t give up when they fail, and they don’t give up because they are tired or uncomfortable. They focus on their goals, not their momentary feelings, and that keeps them going even when things are difficult.

They don’t mean they are a mistake. Likewise, do not let the opinions of others stop them from chasing their dreams. When someone says, “You will never be able to do that,” they are viewing that as a person’s opinion of what all it is.

4. They don’t wait for an apology to forgive

Mentally tough people know that life goes a lot smoother when you let go of grudges and even forgive those who never said they were sorry. Resentment causes negative events from your past to ruin happiness today. Hate and anger are emotional parasites that destroy your zest for life.

The negative emotions that come with holding on to a grudge create a stress response in your body, and holding on to stress can be devastating (both physical and psychological). If you forgive someone, it does not condone their actions. It just frees you from being their eternal victim.

5. They Don’t Waste Time Feeling Sorry for Themselves

The worst part about feeling sorry for yourself isn’t angry, of course: it shifts your place of control outside of yourself.

Pitying yourself essentially means that you are a helpless victim of circumstance. Mentally strong people never feel sorry for themselves because that would mean giving up their power.

Mentally strong people don’t sit around feeling sorry for their circumstances or how others have treated them. Instead, they take responsibility for their role in life and understand that life is not always easy or fair.

6. They have no grudges

The negative emotions that come with holding on to a grudge are actually a stress response. If you hold on to this stress, it will devastate your body and, over time, can have devastating health consequences.

Researchers at Emory University have shown that holding on to stress contributes to high blood pressure and heart disease. Holding on to a grudge means you are holding onto stress and mentally strong people know to avoid it at all costs.

7. They don’t let anyone limit their joy

When your sense of joy and satisfaction results from comparison with others, you are no longer the master of your own happiness. When mentally strong people feel good about something they are doing, they will not let anyone’s opinions or accomplishments take it away.

While it’s impossible to turn off your reactions to what others think of you, there is no need to compare yourself to others and you can always take a grain of salt from people’s opinions.

Mentally strong people know that no matter what people think of them at any given time, one thing is certain: they are never as good or bad as people say they are.

8. They do not limit the joy of others

Mentally strong people don’t judge others because they know everyone has something to offer, and they don’t have to overshadow other people to feel good about themselves.

Comparing yourself to other people is limiting. Jealousy and resentment drain your life; They are massive energy stealers. Mentally strong people do not waste time or energy assessing people and worrying about whether or not they will keep up.

Instead of wasting your energy on jealousy, redirect that energy into appreciation. When you celebrate other people’s success, you both benefit.

9. They don’t get lazy

A study conducted at the Eastern Ontario Research Institute found that people who exercised twice a week for 10 weeks felt more socially, intellectually, and athletically competent.

They also rated their body image and self-esteem higher. Best of all, it wasn’t the physical changes in your body that were responsible for the surge in confidence that is key to mental toughness, but rather the immediate, endorphin-fueled positivity from exercising that made all the difference.

10. They don’t become negative

Keep an eye on the news for an extended period of time and you will see that it is just an endless cycle of war, violent attacks, fragile economies, failing businesses, and environmental disasters.

It’s easy to believe the world is going downhill fast. But mentally strong people don’t worry about this because they are not involved in things that they cannot control.

Instead of trying to start a revolution overnight, they focus their energies on directing the two things that are completely within their power – their attention and their effort.

11. They do not give up their power

They don’t allow others to control them, and they don’t give anyone power over them. They don’t say things like “My boss makes me bad” because they understand that they are in control of their own emotions and how they react.

12. They Don’t Shy Away from Change

Mentally strong people do not try to avoid change. Instead, they embrace positive change and are willing to be flexible. They understand that change is inevitable and believe in their adaptability.

13. They don’t waste energy on things they can’t control

You won’t hear a mentally strong person complaining about lost luggage or traffic jams. Instead, they focus on what they can control in their life. They realize that sometimes the only thing they can control is their attitude.

14. They don’t worry about keeping everyone happy

Mentally strong people realize that they don’t always have to please everyone. You’re not afraid to say no or speak up if necessary. They strive to be kind and fair but are able to deal with other people who are upset if they don’t make them happy.

15. They are not afraid to take calculated risks

They don’t take reckless or stupid risks, but they don’t mind taking calculated risks. Mentally strong people spend time weighing the risks and benefits before making an important decision, and they are fully informed of the potential drawbacks before taking action.

16. They don’t live in the past

Mentally strong people don’t waste time looking at the past and wish things could be different. They recognize their past and can say what they have learned from it.

However, you do not have bad experiences or fantasize about the glory days all the time. Instead, they live for the present and plan for the future.

17. They don’t make the same mistakes over and over again

Mentally strong people take responsibility for their behavior and learn from their past mistakes. As a result, they don’t repeat these mistakes over and over again. Instead, they go further and make better decisions in the future.

18. They don’t get angry about other people’s successes

Mentally strong people can appreciate and celebrate other people’s success in life. They don’t get jealous or feel betrayed when others surpass them. Instead, they realize that success comes with hard work, and they are ready to work hard for their own chance of success.

19. They don’t give up after the first mistake

Mentally strong people don’t see failure as a reason to give up. Instead, they use failure as an opportunity to grow and improve. You are ready to keep trying until you get it right.

20. They are not afraid of alone time

Mentally strong people can tolerate being alone and they are not afraid of silence. They are not afraid of being alone with their thoughts and can use downtime to be productive.

They enjoy their own company and do not constantly rely on others for companionship and entertainment, but can instead be happy on their own.

21. They don’t feel that the world owes them anything

Mentally strong people do not feel entitled to do anything in life. They weren’t born with a mentality that others would take care of them or that the world has to give them something. Instead, they look for opportunities based on their own merits.

22. They don’t expect immediate results

Whether they’re working to improve their health or starting a new business, mentally strong people don’t expect instant results. Instead, they use their skills and time to the best of their ability, understanding that real change takes time.

Conclusion

It’s hard to be mentally strong, especially when you’re feeling stuck. The ability to break form and take a bold new direction requires the extra strength, daring, and sperm that only the most spiritually strong people have.

You can improve your mental strength by studying the things that mentally strong people never do under any circumstances.

22 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do | Ultimate Guide

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