Learning to be mentally tough is easy if you know how. Here is a series of essential keys.
The 8 fundamental keys to develop mental strength
Our reason, our emotions or our habits mark us a lot . Sometimes in a way that can be counterproductive, so we must not allow our mental strength to be affected.
Below we show a series of fundamental keys to be psychologically strong to lead the life we want. These are some simple tips that can make us reflect on the way we are doing things and the way we want to do them.
1. Acceptance is essential
Not accepting things is a cause of blockage . There are many people who do not agree with some situations that they often consider unfair, and they think about it. On many occasions we simply need to accept them in order to look ahead and live without so much anxiety.
It is precisely from this position that we can empower ourselves to do things differently. Despite the contradiction that may seem to exist, to fight for our ideas sometimes this point of acceptance is needed.
2. Focus on what we can control
Many times we worry about things that could have been and will be . This is a widespread error but it leads us to a lot of anguish that we could save ourselves. What is in the past is not at all in our hands and there is no point in thinking too much about it.
When it comes to the future there are certain things that we have to take into account, but not everything goes. Obsessing that we have to get a promotion, like that person or overprotect our son so that nothing happens to him are not good decisions. There are certain things that are beyond our reach, so worrying too much will bring us more problems than solutions.
3. Do not give too much importance to things
There are many people who give a lot of importance to everything . In these cases it usually happens that in cases in which things do not go as expected they have a bad time, and there are even those who dramatize.
There is no solution for those people who think that everything is transcendent. Over the years they will continue to lack mental strength, because to move forward it is not appropriate to think that things are so important. Overvaluing things puts pressure on us and a series of barriers that makes it more difficult to achieve our goals.
4. Think about our priorities
One of the fundamental keys to developing mental toughness has to do with setting priorities . Life is full of struggles and difficulties, so dedicating our energy to causes that we don’t really want is a real shame. In addition, we must accept that we have to make certain sacrifices to achieve our goals.
It is worth taking the time to ask ourselves what our priorities are and then act accordingly. Taking a list and writing them down to visualize them and internalize them will be a great idea. Everything so that our life can take the course that we really want.
5. Commit
There are people who do not put theory into practice, and this represents a very great weakness . For life to go the way we want, we must take sides and put all the meat on the grill.
Thinking about leaving things for later or for the next day is not the attitude we should take if we want to take control of our lives. That is why it is also very interesting to make routines for ourselves, because if we know that it is time to do a particular thing, it will be more difficult to procrastinate.
6. Assess strengths and not hide weaknesses
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses . This is the case for all people, so it is not worth thinking that we are losers and that we will not be able to achieve our goals. These may not be the correct ones, which is something else. We must align our goals with our capabilities.
On the other hand, we should not hide our weaknesses either. Doing so only wastes part of our energy and could play tricks on us; it is best to accept them as they are. Only from this position is it possible to work on them to improve them, and in any case there is no need to feel ashamed. Everyone has.
7. Facing fears
Miguel de Cervantes said that true value lies between cowardice and recklessness . Everyone has fears, and in fact the brave is not the one who does not feel any fear, but the one who faces them.
In order to have mental strength, we must overcome the barriers that we put on ourselves. Being psychologically strong also means getting to show ourselves that we are capable of facing our fears if necessary.
8. Take care of social relationships that matter
Many people will be surprised, but this is an important point. Surrounding ourselves with people who respect us, love us and understand us is essential . In fact, social life is one of the legs that support mental health, but it goes further and is related to mental strength.
Spending our time with people who are superficial or toxic is a bad investment. These people are going to waste our energy uselessly, and they are not going to give us the support we need to face life in the best way when we need it.
- Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy : The exercise of control. Duffield, RU: Worth Publishers.
- Oller, J. (2001). Living is self-realization: Reflections and creations in Transactional Analysis. Barcelona: Editorial Kairos .
- Rogers, C.R. (1995). On becoming a Person: A Therapist’s View of Psychotherapy. Boston (MA), EUA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.