Tuesday Truths – “Let’s Talk About Building Mental Strength”

March 28, 2023

I have been discussing building physical strength as we age; however, let’s not forget about the mental muscle!

Mental strength, or emotional resilience, is how we effectively deal with challenges, pressures, and stresses.

Mental strength is needed when faced with a loss and fear of failure and will determine how quickly you can recover from certain situations.

According to Amy Morin, LCSW, author of “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do”, which has inspired this topic & Editor & Chief of VerywellMind, Mental strength is not the same as mental health.

Mental Health

•  Is the presence or absence of a mental health issue.
•  Or the overall state of your mental wellness.

Mental Strength

• The ability to cope with negative emotions healthily.
• It is understanding your emotions.
• It is knowing when to engage with your emotions and step back.

Mental strength has three parts:

1. Thinking – It’s about thinking realistically and recognizing irrational thoughts, speaking “kind” to yourself, and not overly critical of yourself.
2. Feeling – Acknowledging your pain, not repressing it. Accepting an uncomfortable emotion or calming yourself down.
3. Doing – Taking PRODUCTIVE ACTION. Allowing yourself to engage in self-care ensures your behaviors are good for you!

The way you THINK affects how you FEEL and therefore affects how you behave.

“It loops back around, known as the “Cognitive Triad” …… The MIND-BODY Connection links our Thoughts, Emotions, and Behaviors.

Just like developing or maintaining physical muscle mass, exercises that build mental strength will also improve mental health.

Here are some simple exercises for you to try for the “Cognitive Triad/Mind-Body Connection.”

• Cognitive Exercises – Help to think more positively by reframing negative thoughts.
  • Gratitude Journal – starts to activate positive thoughts and feelings.
  • Talk to a Friend – Friends will be more compassionate than you.
  • Argue the opposite – When you think everything will go wrong, think of everything that will go right!

• Emotional Exercises – To increase self-awareness of your emotional state.
  • Label your feelings – Notice they are just feelings & get some distance from them. Then, you can better understand the problem or emotion you are dealing with.
  • Use healthy coping skills – Take a walk, give yourself a pep talk, or read a book you enjoy.
  • Take deep breaths – Deep breathing reduces anxiety and relieves painful emotions.

• Behavioral Exercises – Get up to move and do good things for yourself.
  • Behavioral experiments – Performed by psychotherapists to test the reality of beliefs. A technique that can help clients recognize that their assumptions may not be accurate.
  • Schedule positive activities – such as a warm bath before bed and a great meal that brings you joy.
  • Engage in hobbies – Things you LOVE to bring a sense of accomplishment that can help you feel GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF!

All in All …… Let’s Flex that Muscle we call the Mind.

“Strength doesn’t come from what you can do.

” It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.”

Rikki Rogers

Until next time, Trust your Truth while building personal confidence in Mental Strength, BODY, and SPIRIT with AGE-GILITY!

Bye for now!