Signs You are Mentally Strong

The hallmark indicators of psychological resilience and mental well-being.

1. You balance emotion and logic

You strive to find a balance between logic and feelings. Emotions can cloud judgement just as an over reliance on logic can hamper decision making. Reason and logic are fundamental to decision making, yet without the balancing effect of feelings it is often insufficient to motivate action and fully gain from the benefits of the decision. Intuition and experience generate visceral biochemical responses essential to benefit from change.

2. You build discipline and order from consistency, yet embrace change for growth

Confidence comes from practice, repetition and discipline while the capacity to adapt acknowledges that change is essential to progress. Incorporating both allows for constancy amidst change. The shifting sands of circumstance dictate that change is required. The mentally strong capitalize on both.

3. You face your fears

Everyone has fears and knowing which ones are holding us back are the ones we have to face and conquer. Compassionate self-awareness and courage provide the mentally strong with the impetus to conquer their fears.

4. You learn from your mistakes.

Mistakes are inevitable. It is learning from the mistakes that separate the mentally strong people from those who deny, minimize blame or rationalize the mistake away.

5. You balance self-acceptance with self-improvement

Self-acceptance is a prerequisite of self-esteem. Harnessing one’s innate capacity, skills and experience while acknowledging incapacities, weaknesses or ignorance is a characteristic of mentally strong people. It the bridge between humility and quiet confidence."

6. You celebrate success in yourself and others

Mentally strong people celebrate success; they bask in the moment of victories as a reminder of the fruit of hard work. Achievement involves sacrifice and is thus an opportunity to pay tribute to the individual whose efforts warrant the recognition. It is a celebration of character attributes more than a tribute to the event itself. The truly mentally strong don't feel as though other people's success somehow diminishes their own achievements.

7. You live a principle governed life consistent with your values

Mentally strong people make decisions with relative ease because they understand their priorities and live according to their values.

8. You feel good about yourself in spite of your achievement

It's natural to feel good when success follows you and bad when you fail or fall short, but the mentally strong don't let the ups and downs of life interfere with their core self-image. Mentally strong people feel good about themselves, whether they win or lose or when their efforts fall short of an expected mark. Next time life deals you a blow, notice how deeply it affects you. If you can shrug it off more easily without feeling too bad about yourself, congratulations! You've likely achieved a high measure of mental strength.

9. You express gratitude

It's easy to look around and see all the things you lack, but the mentally strong choose to focus their attention on the things they do have--and feel grateful for them. Do you?

10. You value learning and the pursuit of knowledge

Mentally strong people value knowledge and continually study, readily accept sound counsel, are openminded, are prone to pondering and meditation, avoid the tendency to mask their ignorance, but rather look for opportunities to expand their knowledge base, dispel misconceptions and enlighten your perspective.

How many of these 10 behaviours do you exhibit?