[March 25, 2019] A moment of honestly. Mentally fragile people often do not succeed in business or in life. Although there are a plethora of factors which determine our state of mind, there are also learned behaviors which can help us mentally toughen up. Here are 13 examples of exactly what a mentally tough person wouldn’t do.
Don’t be afraid of change
As is so often said, change is inevitable. If you accept this, then you can prepare and embrace it. Only then can you truly thrive.
Don’t delegate your power
This point is not just about power in a traditional sense. Of course, in your company, your boss has power over your tasks, but what nobody can ever have power over is the way you think and the way you feel. Never allow someone else to dictate these elements: this is your personal power.
Don’t stay silent
Mentally strong individuals fight injustice where they see it, and speak up when they feel the time is right. Don’t be a wallflower, speak your mind freely and frequently.
Don’t feel sorry for yourself
This is related to the previous point. You cannot change what has happened, but you still have authority over the way you feel about it and your reaction. Wasting your time and energy feeling sorry for yourself is the epitome of folly, and mentally strong individuals simply don’t do it.
Don’t worry about things you can’t change
There are things that you have power and influence over, such as your own actions. There are other things which you have no control over, such as the weather. The sooner you accept that, the better it will be for you.
Don’t focus on what has been and gone
The past is that past. Accept it, learn from it, and move on. Nothing good can come from lamenting what has already happened.
Don’t make the same mistake over and over again
But do learn from your mistakes. This is the only way in which dwelling on the past can actually be productive.
Don’t spare people’s feelings
It’s not about being heartless, it is about accepting that, under no circumstances, can you make everybody happy all of the time. It’s about making yourself and those you respect happy first and foremost, and follow this rule of thumb will make more people happy than not.
Don’t be afraid of taking risks
No successful person, ever, was afraid of taking a risk here and there. Playing it safe will ultimately never take you to where you really want to be. You win some, and you lose some, but if a risk is calculated and prepared for, it really isn’t a risk at all.
Don’t overthink every aspect of everything
“As soon as you begin overthinking, the risks pile up and the reasons why you shouldn’t soon begin to outweigh the reasons why you should; no successful person ever behaved this way,” warns Janet Torrento, a lifestyle writer at Draft beyond and Research papers UK.
Don’t focus on others
Whether they may be successful, and you hate it, or they are unsuccessful, and you feel sorry for them, it’s not about other people. It’s about you, and your journey. Focusing on others is a waste of time.
Don’t fear time with yourself
“Alone time can be the most productive time available to any individual; successful and strong individuals recognize this, and use it immaculately to their advantage,” enthuses Thomas G. Franks, a productivity blogger at Last minute writing and Writinity.
Never give up
This one speaks for itself!
Links to Jayme Hammit’s advice can be found here: Gum Essays and Lucky Assignments.
Hi Jayme. I liked your article. Thanks.
Yes, well written.
I like your list. 🙂
I laughed to myself when I read your blog post today, Jayme. The piece of advice to ‘don’t make the same mistake over and over’ is one I think we all do. I think it was Albert Einstein that said something to the effect that if you keep doing something over and over, yet expect different results, that is the definition of insanity.
The “definition of insanity” quote first appeared in 1981, in a document published by Narcotics Anonymous. It was a sort of guide book for addicts who trying to overcome their disease, and it warned its readers that, “insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results.” This applies to everything we do.
“Don’t be afraid of change” is a hard one for most people. In fact, most folks will do just about anything to prevent change. Often we don’t even know we’re doing it. Change is scary. We don’t like the unknown. Thanks Jayme for your article.
Very nice article – informative! Thanks.
Yes, I agree. Always best to see things from another perspective.