Book Finds: 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do Part 2

Welcome back to my site! Let’s get straight into becoming mentally strong. This book called 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do has some incredible tips and tricks on self-growth. Amy Morin does not play around. She has gotten to the root and is trying to help us along our journey. Without further ado, let’s get into the second half of the book.

If for any reason, you started with this post first. I have already uploaded the first half of the book in a separate post. I will link that in case you want to catch up first. Part 1

Enjoy and let’s grow!

7. They Don’t Dwell On The Past

• Although self-reflection is healthy, dwelling can be self-destructive, preventing you from enjoying the present and planning for the future.
• I had to trust that moving forward wouldn’t cause me to forget any of my wonderful memories.
• Sometimes we dwell on the past as a way to distract ourselves from the present.
• Often, we romanticize the past as a way to escape problems in the present.
• Dwelling on past times can be a vicious cycle that keeps you stuck in the same emotional state.
• Our memories aren’t as accurate as we think they are.
• Some of the best life lessons can be learned from the toughest times you’ve endured.
• When you begin to take away the emotion surrounding an event, you’re less likely to dwell on it.
• Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting something happened.
• Recognize times when you’re dwelling on the past and take the steps necessary to heal your emotions so you can move forward.
• Think about negative events in terms of facts, not emotions.

8. They Don’t Make The Same Mistakes Over and Over

• “The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” -John Powell
• Everyone repeats mistakes sometimes.
• Although there’s a lot to be said for “dusting yourself off and getting right back up on the horse,” it is wiser to figure out why you fell off in the first place before you try again.
• If you want to avoid repeating a mistake, spend some time studying it.
• Look for an explanation without making an excuse:
  • 1. What went wrong?
  • 2. What could I have done better?
  • 3. What can I do differently next time?
• The key to success lies in developing a good plan. Developing a written plan increases the likelihood that you’ll follow through with it.
• How to create a written plan to avoid repeating your mistakes:
  • 1. Establish behavior that will replace previous behavior.
  • 2. Identify warning signs that you’re headed down the wrong path again.
  • 3. Find a way to hold yourself accountable.
• Self-discipline isn’t something you either have or you don’t. Everyone has the ability to increase their self-discipline.
• Avoiding those mistakes that can derail your progress requires constant vigilance and hard work.
• Mentally strong people are often willing to share their mistakes with other people in an effort to help prevent them from making the same mistakes.

9. They Don’t Resent Other People’s Success

• If you feel resentment over someone else’s accomplishments, it’s likely based on irrational thinking and can cause you to begin behaving in an illogical manner.
• Resentment of others’ success is also a result of deep-rooted insecurities.
• You can’t have everything you want.
• You never actually know what goes on behind closed doors.
• Animosity over someone else’s achievements only serves as a distraction that will slow down your progress.
• Wishing that other people lacked talent won’t improve your talent.
• If you don’t feel good about who you are, it’s important to examine what the reason might be.
• As long as you view the people in your life as competitors, you’ll always focus on trying to “win.”
• Behaving in a humble manner can do wonders for how you feel about yourself, as well as other people.
• Surrounding yourself with others who are working hard to reach their goals can be good for you.
• To create your own definition of success, sometimes it’s best to look at the big picture of your life and not just the phase that you’re in right now.
• Everyone’s path to success is different and it’s important to recognize that your journey is unique.
• “Write your own book instead of reading someone else’s book about success.” -Herb Brooks

10. They Don’t Give Up After The First Failure

• Most successful people treat failure as just the beginning of a long journey to success.
• Failing can actually be a wonderful experience, but only if you move forward with the knowledge you gain from it.
• It’s difficult to succeed without failing at least once.
• Look at your path to success as a marathon and not a sprint. Accept that failure is part of the process that helps you learn and grow.
• Failure isn’t likely as bad as you make it out to be in your mind.
• By thinking about what you can learn from the experience, you’ll be more likely to accept that failure is part of the process.
• Self-compassion, and not necessarily high self-esteem, may be the key to reaching your full potential.
• Self-compassion means viewing your failures kindly yet realistically.
• Avoid making your entire self-worth contingent upon high achievement or you’ll be less likely to risk doing things where you may fail.
• Failure can build character by challenging you in new ways.
• View failure as a learning opportunity.

11. They Don’t Fear Alone Time

• Creating time to be alone with your thoughts can be a powerful experience, instrumental in helping you reach your goals.
• Mental strength requires you to take time out from the busyness of daily life to focus on growth.
• Keeping an over-booked calendar helps people feel important. The more your phone rings, and the more plans you make, the more important you must be. Right?
• Staying busy also serves as a wonderful distraction.
• There are also societal pressures to be productive.
• Being alone often gets confused with being lonely.
• Loneliness is about perceiving that no one is there for you. But solitude is about making a choice to be alone with your thoughts.
• View your solitary activities as practice.
• Use alone time to do the following:
  • 1. Reflect on your goals.
  • 2. Pay attention to your feelings.
  • 3. Set goals for the future.
  • 4. Write in a journal.
• The key to making alone time helpful is that it has to be a choice.
• You don’t have to stay home to appreciate solitude.
• The point of a date with yourself is to be alone with your thoughts.
• Mindfulness is about developing an acute awareness of what is happening within the moment without forming judgement.
• Mindfulness allows you to accept your thoughts for what they are in the moment. It raises your awareness and helps you to “zone in” on each activity you’re doing throughout the day.
• The key to developing skills is to remember that they take practice and dedication.
• Developing an improved sense of self-awareness can help you continue to recognize what’s holding you back from reaching your full potential.

12. They Don’t Feel The World Owes Them Anything

• A feeling that the world owes you something isn’t always about a sense of superiority. Sometimes, it is about a sense of injustice.
• When you’re focused on yourself, it is extremely challenging to be empathetic.
• Keep these truths in mind:
  • 1. Life isn’t meant to be fair.
  • 2. Your problems aren’t unique.
  • 3. You have choices in how you respond to disappointments.
  • 4. You aren’t more deserving.
• Insisting that you’re entitled to more than you have isn’t likely to help you in life.
• Focus on what you have to give, rather than what you want to take.
• Give back to other people in need.
• Behave like a team player.
• Think about other people’s feelings.

13. They Don’t Expect Immediate Results

• Expecting immediate results can set you up to fail.
• A willingness to develop realistic expectations and an understanding that success doesn’t happen overnight is necessary if you want to reach your full potential.
• Success is rarely instant.
• Create realistic expectations that will keep you energized over the long haul.
• Don’t assign a timeline based on what you think “should be.” Instead, be flexible and understand that a lot of factors will influence when you will see results.
• Parents often need reassurance that just because their child’s behavior seemed to be getting worse, it didn’t mean their parenting strategies weren’t effective.
• If you can remember to look at your long term goals, it will help you put setbacks into perspective.
• Even people who are good at delaying gratification in some areas of their lives are likely to have weaknesses in others.
• Forgoing instant gratification requires constant vigilance.
• Reaching your full potential requires you to demonstrate will-power to resist short-term temptation.

Conclusion

• Mental strength requires ongoing maintenance. There is always room for improvement.
• No one is immune to making mistakes and having bad days.
• Just like any good coach should provide a combination of support and advice to help you get better, be willing to do that for yourself.
• Create opportunities for growth but understand that you’ll never be perfect.
• Remember, if you want to change how you feel, you have to change how you think and behave.
• Ensure to create an environment that will set you up for success.
• Developing mental strength means knowing that you’ll be okay no matter what happens.
• When you become mentally strong, you will be your best self.

Thank you so much for checking out my post! Wow, talk about a mental challenge. I would love to know what hit home for you in the second half of the book, so leave some of your favorite moments in the comments below.

I hope you are having an amazing day. I will see you soon with something new!