According to psychotherapist Amy Morin, building your capacity to
deal with negativity and adversity isn't about building mental muscle
mass; it's about subtracting the harmful habits of thought that waste
your energy and make you weaker.
Here are a few things you should stop doing for improved mental strength.
1. Feeling sorry for yourself
Your grandmother was right -- there is little benefit in crying over
spilled milk. Bad, unfair things sadly happen. Moping about them is just
a waste of your energy. "Mentally strong people don't sit around
feeling sorry about their circumstances or how others have treated them.
Instead, they take responsibility for their role in life and understand
that life isn't always easy or fair," Morin writes.
This advice is a bit controversial, however. Other experts have argued that a short, controlled burst of wallowing after a setback is a healthy way
to be kind to yourself, process negative emotion, and learn from your
experience. But everyone agrees: If feeling sorry for yourself goes on
and on with no constructive benefits, it's time to suck it up and take
responsibility for moving forward.
2. Avoiding change
If ever there was a losing battle, it's trying to avoid change. Not.
Going. To. Happen. Mentally strong people know this. They "welcome
positive change and are willing to be flexible. They understand that
change is inevitable and believe in their abilities to adapt."
3. Trying to please everyone
Trying to please everyone often means you end up never pleasing
yourself. The mentally strong are considerate of others but they don't
make this mistake. "They're not afraid to say no
or speak up when necessary. They strive to be kind and fair, but can
handle other people being upset if they didn't make them happy," writes
Morin.
4. Repeating mistakes
You've no doubt heard the oft-repeated (and possibly misattributed) Einstein quote
that says "the definition of insanity is doing something over and over
again and expecting a different result." The truly resilient take this
truth to heart. "They accept responsibility for their behavior and learn
from their past mistakes," so that they don't make them again, Morin
asserts.
5. Resenting others' success
Envy may be natural but it's also a pointless energy suck. All the
thought you're pouring into comparing yourself with others could be put
to better use. The mentally strong "don't grow jealous or feel cheated
when others surpass them. Instead, they recognize that success comes
with hard work, and they are willing to work hard for their own chance
at success," she believes.
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