Adrian Volenik
How mentally strong do you feel from 1 to 10? If you’re feeling really confident about your mental stability and endurance, you’ll be happy to know that there are signs that can prove it.
Now, that could really boost your ego, right?
Psychology can give us many insights, and estimating how mentally strong someone is is one of them.
So, let’s learn what signs, based on psychology, show that you’re a mentally strong person.
1) You bounce back
Life throws curveballs, but you’re like a resilient rubber ball and bounce back from setbacks.
Resilience isn’t about avoiding stress but adapting and rebounding from it. Psychologists highlight the importance of cognitive flexibility, emotional regulation, and developing a positive outlook in boosting resilience.
If you’re resilient, you’re good at developing coping mechanisms (hobbies, humor, exercise), learning from setbacks, and viewing challenges as opportunities for growth.
Every obstacle you encounter isn’t a reason for great concern but a teaching and improving moment.
2) You embrace change
Instead of freaking out, you roll with the punches and adapt like a champ. Adaptability is rooted in mental flexibility – the ability to shift thinking between concepts or perspectives.
In other words, you can adjust your thinking, emotions, and behavior in response to new situations.
Psychologists underline that adaptability is a key factor in navigating the intricacies of modern life.
For that reason, if you’re mentally strong, you are open-minded, embrace uncertainty, and develop a willingness to learn from new experiences.
3) You’re self-aware
According to psychology, self-awareness is the conscious knowledge of your own character, feelings, motives, and desires. It’s the foundation for personal growth and emotional intelligence.
You know yourself inside out, your strengths, weaknesses, and all that. How you come to know yourself so well depends on your habits.
I know some who practice self-awareness with mindfulness, journaling, and seeking feedback from others to gain a deeper understanding of themselves.
For you, this might be something much more straightforward. Whatever made you self-aware contributed to your mental strength.
4) You’re accountable
Accountability is tied to a sense of responsibility and maturity – you own up to your actions (good or not-so-great).
Psychologists highlight that taking ownership of your actions promotes trust in relationships and contributes to personal growth.
By accepting accountability, you acknowledge mistakes, make amends, and actively work towards positive change.
Let’s say you were in charge of a team project, and there was a miscalculation that affected the final result.
Instead of pointing fingers, you openly admit the mistake, accepting the oversight. With this, you set the stage for addressing the issue and finding a solution.
5) You’re open to feedback
A growth mindset, coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, is the belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. Being open to feedback is a key characteristic of this mindset.
Constructive criticism is your friend, helping you grow and improve.
When you embrace a growth mindset, you start seeing challenges as opportunities to learn.
You want people to give you constructive criticism, and any setbacks you encounter, you use as stepping stones to improvement.
6) You stay positive
Being positive means you can stay optimistic and think of all the good stuff that makes life awesome. This is called positive psychology.
You’re focusing on your strengths and the cool qualities that make you who you are.
When you’re mentally strong, you put this into action by turning the frown upside down: When you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts, you look at things in a more positive light.
You also take some time to say “thanks” for the good stuff around you and really enjoy those awesome moments that make you smile.
Which brings us to gratitude.
7) You have a gratitude attitude
Mentally strong people appreciate the little things because gratitude is associated with increased well-being and life satisfaction.
Psychologists suggest that expressing gratitude rewires the brain to focus on positive aspects of life.
Think about a time when someone unexpectedly helped you out when you were facing a tough situation.
When you genuinely appreciate and acknowledge their kindness, you experience a warm, positive feeling.
Regularly integrating gratitude into your life is a way to boost your overall happiness. It’s more than just about being polite.
It’s a simple practice that can bring about lasting positive changes in how you view and experience life.
8) You’re goal-oriented
You’ve got your eyes on the prize and a plan to get there. However, goal orientation is deeply connected to motivation.
Psychologists emphasize the importance of intrinsic motivation, driven by personal values and interests, in achieving long-term goals.
If you don’t have your why, chances are you won’t meet your goals and dreams. For example, when my family and I were looking for a way to move from Ireland to a more sunny and safe Portugal, we looked at the easiest ways to achieve that.
For us, that was finding online jobs that we could do from anywhere. So we had our goal (move to Portugal), our motivation (it’s safer and sunnier), and a way to get there (find location-independent jobs).
Without any of these components, we probably wouldn’t be where we are now, and achieving all of that made us mentally stronger because we had to jump through many hoops to reach it.
9) You handle stress well
Stress is a part of life, but if you’re mentally strong, you manage it like a boss. You see, a mentally strong person doesn’t crumble under pressure but instead demonstrates resilience by facing challenges with a level head, learning from the experience, and emerging stronger.
From a psychological aspect, it’s important to have healthy coping mechanisms, as effective coping strategies help us manage stress constructively.
Think of a mentally strong person like someone you know – a friend, a family member, or even yourself.
When life throws stress their way (and let’s be real, life loves doing that), they don’t turn to things that can make the situation worse.
Instead of diving into destructive behaviors like excessive binge-watching, mindless snacking, or snapping at everyone around them, they hit the gym for a good sweat session.
Or they take a few minutes to work on mindfulness through deep breaths, meditation, or just enjoying a quiet moment.
10) You have healthy habits
Mentally strong people take care of their minds and bodies because they’re their lifelong partners.
Psychologically, maintaining healthy habits is not just about the body; it’s recognizing the intricate link between physical well-being and mental strength.
That’s why regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and a balanced diet contribute not only to physical health but also play a key role in supporting mental resilience.
Like most people, I know how important it is to establish and stick to healthy habits by creating routines.
Psychologists stress the importance of routines in giving us a sense of stability and predictability.
A structured daily life is essential for mental stability and reduces chaos and uncertainty.
11) You ask for help when needed
Being mentally strong doesn’t mean you have to handle everything on your own. In fact, recognizing when you need help is a sign of emotional intelligence.
It reflects that seeking help doesn’t diminish your strength. Instead, it’s a smart and resourceful approach to problem-solving: You know it’s okay not to have all the answers and reach out for support.
Psychologically, reaching out for help is a recognition of the importance of social connections.
Humans are inherently social beings, and asking for support when needed is a healthy way of dealing with life’s challenges.
It shows an awareness of the strength found in shared experiences and collective wisdom.
Final thoughts
If you recognized yourself in some of these signs – congratulations. You’re on the right path in life, and now you just need to make sure you don’t veer off.
And because you’re so mentally strong, why not help others achieve similar levels of toughness?
