My Holland

Not a day goes by without challenges that test our mental toughness.  As we overcome these, new trials arise. Don’t be annoyed if you see happy people who seem to have no worries. Newsflash: They have problems too, but they’re not negatively affected by these. Why? They are mentally healthy. The good news is you can be like them.  Keep in mind that to be mentally strong, you’re going have to change your beliefs, behavior, perspective and outlook.   You can best decide what other areas in your life need a little tweaking.  For now, here are some qualities of mentally tough people that you may not be aware of. They Have a High Self-Esteem Mentally healthy people have an excellent yet factual opinion of themselves.  They’re confident, even though they’re not perfect.  They believe in their abilities which they continue to improve while seeking new ones to master.  When they encounter problems, they focus on finding solutions.  For them, life is not a series of problems, but a series of problem-solving! Don’t take your skills and strengths for granted.  List them down and you’ll realize you have more than what you thought you had. They Are Emotionally Healthy Mentally tough people never waste their energy wallowing in self-pity.  Life might have dealt them a bad hand. But, they make the most of what they have or the circumstances they’re in. They never feel sorry for themselves. Emotionally healthy people control their emotions, especially fear, sadness and anger.   In the face of adversity, they boldly rise to the challenge.  And when they pursue their goals, they do so with passion and determination. They Are Not Afraid of Failure Mentally tough people are always ready to take a leap of faith into the great unknown. They don’t listen to naysayers who may include their family or others close to them.  If they believe something is worth doing, they’ll forge ahead fully committed.   It doesn’t matter to them if they fail.  What matters to them is they tried. They Are Not Afraid of Rejection The fear of rejection is one significant deterrent for many people.  But, mentally healthy people like great salespersons don’t take it personally when they’re told “no thanks”, “another time perhaps” or even simply waved away.  They are self-assured, mentally and emotionally.  In the aftermath of rejection,   they simply move on with their confidence intact. They Stick To Their Dreams Mentally healthy people are unwavering when it comes to their aspirations in life.   They view challenges as mountains to surmount. They expect hardships and obstacles but do not avoid them.   Aware that there is no easy road to success, they stay the course.  At the end of the road, they know they will achieve their goals in life. They Never Stop Learning Socrates said that admitting one’s ignorance is the beginning of wisdom.  Benjamin Franklin and others have said something similar but the point is this – mentally tough people don’t pretend to know everything.  Despite having degrees, they continue to seek knowledge by reading books and other publications, searching the internet or enrolling in formal courses. Mentally tough people learn from their mistakes, failures and rejections.  They treat these as guides for their future actions.  Ask any successful person.  They’ll tell you that experience, good or bad, is always a great teacher. Wrapping Up If you want to be mentally healthy, you have to take seriously the qualities you just read.  With just the right effort and determination, you’ll achieve that mental toughness you desire.