Anyone familiar with Amy Morin’s famous Lifehack article, “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do,” which she later expanded to a full-length book of the same title, might find it a bit odd that we decided to do a recap for today’s blog. After all, the article sums everything up quite nicely!
That’s very true, and we see no need to reinvent the wheel. So, instead, we’re going to show how the Fabulous app can help you develop mental strength based on Morin’s world-famous list.
Mentally Strong People don’t waste time feeling sorry for themselves.
Self-pity might feel good in the short-term, but it isn’t much of a solution. If you’re feeling down on your luck, Fabulous has all sorts of meditations and inspirational visualization exercises in our Make Me Fabulous menu. We particularly recommend the meditation “The Wall,” or the Get Inspired exercise, “Fresh Start!”
Mentally Strong People don’t give away their power.
By understanding we have control over our thoughts and feelings, we can keep other people from controlling them for us. Our “Write Your Story” Sit and Think exercise is a great way to better understand this concept. Or, if you really want to explore it deeply, try our journey, “The Art of Stoic Living.”
Mentally Strong People don’t shy away from change.
Change is scary! But it’s also a good thing. Without change, we wouldn’t have the beauty of autumn. But sudden changes, like the loss of a job or a loved one, can rock our foundations. During these chaotic periods of our lives, being comfortable with ourselves can matter more than ever. Our “Pillars of Self-Esteem” journey can help you lay the groundwork of emotional strength for those times when you really need it.
Mentally Strong People don’t waste energy on things they can’t control.
No matter how much we want to, we can’t control the weather. And that’s just one of many things outside of our control. “The Art of Stoic Living” is also relevant here, as the entire philosophy of Stoicism revolves around focusing on what is within our control. We wrote a blog post about it here if you’d like to learn more.
Mentally Strong People don’t worry about pleasing everyone.
With over 7 billion people on planet Earth, it’s hard to imagine how anyone could possibly please everyone. That doesn’t stop us from trying, though! Instead of working so hard on this impossible task, why not try taking care of the most important person in your life: You! If you’re ready to make self-compassion an everyday part of your life, try our “Life Well-Balanced” journey, or the Get Inspired exercise “A Fabulous Uplifting” is a great emotional pick-me-up.
Mentally Strong People don’t fear taking calculated risks.
They key word here is calculated. Taking a risk without carefully thinking about it first is just as bad as never taking risks at all. But, with enough focus and fortitude, a calculated risk can completely alter your life for the better. Our “The Child and the Sage” meditation touches on this. Or, you can try our “Build an Iron Self-Discipline” journey, which focuses on the importance of planning ahead.
Mentally Strong People don’t dwell on the past.
Until we invent time travel, the past is set in stone. There is nothing we can do to change it. But we can learn from it as we move forward. Our “The Value of the Present Moment” and “Influencing Your Value System” meditations are both about embracing the power of now while leaving regrets behind.
Mentally Strong People don’t make the same mistakes over and over.
Everyone makes mistakes but making the same mistakes repeatedly can be frustrating at the best of times and catastrophic at the worst. If you’re consistently forgetting things, or making the same mistakes time and again, an organization overhaul may be just what you need. Why not try our “Staying on the Road” Journey, which is designed to help boost concentration and focus?
Mentally Strong People don’t resent other people’s success.
There is no benefit in resenting other people. In fact, it’s better for our health and for society if we practice regular kindness. A daily gratitude practice, which our “Practice Gratitude” challenge can help you build, is a great way to remind ourselves of what’s good in our lives. Or, our “Act of Kindness” challenge can help you connect with people instead of resenting them.
Mentally Strong People don’t give up after the first failure.
If you fail at something, it can feel like the end of the world, but we promise you it’s not! Failure is just a part of the learning process, and one of the most important parts. But, if you need a little comfort, our “A Fabulous Uplifting” Get Inspired exercise is just what you need. Or, if you’re ready to get back in the ring, our “Self-Discipline: Mental Toughness” exercise will pump you up!
Mentally Strong People don’t fear alone time.
Never underestimate the power of being alone! Alone time gives us the chance to rest, refresh, and reflect. A daily meditation practice is a perfect way to make the most value out of your alone time. Or, if you like to write, why not try journaling? Use one of our Deep Work timers and write out your thoughts.
Mentally Strong People don’t feel the world owes them anything.
Those who wait for opportunity to come to them will always be disappointed. Opportunities only come to those who actively seek them. Our “Your Life on Repeat” meditation confronts you with a difficult question: If you had to relive your life a thousand times over, would you want to? Or do you think some changes are in order? If you’re ready to make some changes and start seeking opportunity, try our “Overwhelming Force” Get Inspired exercise to figure out how.
Mentally Strong People don’t expect immediate results.
Change is a long, drawn-out process. No substantial change happens overnight. There is no one Fabulous journey that can help you develop patience because our whole app is built around this idea! Instead of promising you quick fixes, we use the power of behavioral science to enact small, sustainable changes to your life. And it all starts with a glass of water.
If you’re ready to develop some mental strength, Fabulous is free to download and available for Android and iOS. Start your journey today.