By consistently doing these 8 things, you can improve your mental strength.

We require all the mental fortitude we can find these days.

To overcome challenges, achieve success, experience happiness, and reduce stress, you need mental strength, which involves regulating your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively, even in difficult situations.

After conducting extensive research on mental strength and interviewing thousands of individuals for my book "The Mentally Strong Leader," I have discovered that there are specific habits that the mentally strongest people tend to possess. These habits include certain patterns in their speech and behavior that can be learned from.

By consistently doing these eight things, you can become mentally stronger than most people. However, if you haven't yet, this list can serve as a mini-playbook to help you improve your mental strength.

1. Manage emotions without minimizing them

The saying "leave your emotions at the door" is not always easy to follow.

Mentally strong individuals are aware of their emotional triggers but do not allow those emotions to immediately manifest in words or actions.

Using cognitive behavioral therapy, they identify unhelpful emotions, evaluate their usefulness, and adjust their response accordingly.

2. Remember confidence isn't the absence of doubt

Even the most self-assured individuals I've spoken to struggle with uncertainty.

Managing doubt is your ability to build confidence.

The mentally resilient have discovered the ideal balance between overconfidence and fear of failure. They accept uncertainty, but keep it in the background to concentrate on achieving their goals, rather than questioning their ability to do so.

3. Talk to yourself like a friend in need

I'm sorry to hear that. It must have been really difficult for you. Is there anything I can do to help you through this?

"What caused this relationship to fail? It's entirely your fault, you jerk!"

I doubt it. Instead, you might say:

"I understand how difficult this must be for you and I encourage you to be kind to yourself."

You should take this more compassionate tone with yourself, too.

4. Know your resilience needs and draw on resources accordingly

Seeking perspective and support is crucial for mentally strong individuals when facing setbacks.

To cope with setbacks, I rely on my ability to find humor in the situation. When I need support, I turn to my siblings who can help me see the funny side of things and make me feel better.

Someone may require someone to simply listen, offer emotional support, or provide guidance.

Resilience is a collective effort that requires identifying the right people in your network to support you.

5. Don't let the daily grind get you down

Those with mental strength are less affected by the daily grind.

They practice grindfulness, which involves being present and mindful in daily life to notice the details and express gratitude for the positive aspects of their daily grind.

Despite feeling overwhelmed by the influx of emails that arrived overnight, you pause to appreciate the incredible technology that allows you to send your thoughts to someone on the other side of the world with just a few keystrokes.

Grindfulness is the practice of appreciating small, everyday details, which can improve your mood.

6. Unlearn as needed

Recognizing when to let go of preconceived notions is a trait of mentally strong people. They know when to drop outdated points of view and ideas that no longer serve them. They identify and abandon unproductive habits. They frequently challenge their assumptions.

Sometimes, they understand that they must unlearn in order to learn.

What limiting beliefs do you have that are holding you back? What unhelpful stories do you tell yourself that have become ingrained? What unwarranted labels are you applying?

Instead of feeling inadequate and telling yourself, "I'm not qualified enough to succeed," replace those limiting beliefs with empowering beliefs like, "I possess all the skills and knowledge required to achieve my goals."

7. Act like an epicenter of encouragement

Consistently supporting others requires mental fortitude, particularly when others are choosing to complain rather than taking the difficult path.

Informed encouragement is more effective than generic positivity because it is specific and authentic.

8. Act like change is happening for you, not to you

You can view change as something that causes pain and requires unwanted effort, rather than something that happens to you.

On the other hand, mentally strong individuals view change as a positive opportunity for personal and professional growth, as if it's something that happens to them.

View change as a chance to enhance your mental fortitude and foster growth.

Scott Mautz is a well-known speaker, trainer, and LinkedIn Learning instructor. He was previously a senior executive at Procter & Gamble, where he oversaw several of the company's largest multi-billion-dollar businesses. He is the author of "The Mentally Strong Leader: Develop the Skills to Control Your Emotions, Thoughts, and Actions." Connect with him on LinkedIn.

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