Ethan Sterling
There’s a big gap between feeling mentally strong and actually being mentally strong.
Often, it’s hard to gauge our own mental strength; mental strength often goes unnoticed, especially by the person who possesses it.
Feeling mentally strong is about confidence, but true mental strength has more to do with resilience and adaptability—you might not even realize how resilient and capable you are because your inner strength shows up in subtle ways!
From navigating challenges to maintaining emotional balance, here are eight signs that you’re a mentally stronger person than you give yourself credit for.
1) You embrace change
Change is a part of life, but it can often feel overwhelming and scary.
Most people resist change, preferring the comfort of the known over the uncertainty of the new, but mentally strong people understand that change is inevitable and often necessary for growth.
When faced with change, you adapt and adjust—see change as an opportunity to learn and evolve, rather than as a threat.
If you are someone who embraces change instead of resisting it, give yourself some credit.
2) You’re not afraid of alone time
Once upon a time, I used to dread being alone: Silence and solitude felt uncomfortable, even frightening.
I would constantly seek company and distraction to avoid confronting my own thoughts.
But over time, I realized that spending time alone is all about enjoying your own company, reflecting on your thoughts, and understanding yourself better.
Today, I cherish my alone time by using it to introspect, to meditate, or simply to unwind with a good book or a quiet walk.
This doesn’t mean I don’t value social interactions—they are important too—but I’ve learned that being comfortable with my own company is a sign of mental strength.
Appreciating your alone time rather than fearing it means you’ve learned to be self-sufficient and comfortable in your own skin.
3) You learn from your mistakes
Mistakes can be hard to swallow, but they’re a fundamental part of our growth.
Research shows that those who adopt a growth mindset—the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed—are more likely to learn from their mistakes.
They see errors not as failures, but as opportunities to learn and improve.
Reflecting on where you went wrong and thinking of how you can avoid making the same missteps in the future is a clear sign of mental strength; you’re taking responsibility and using the experience as a stepping stone for improvement.
Remember: Your mistakes are lessons, and acknowledging this is a sign of being mentally stronger than you think.
4) You set boundaries
Saying “no” can be tough.
We often fear disappointing others or coming off as unkind, but setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining mental health and developing self-respect.
Mentally strong people understand the importance of setting boundaries; they know it’s not selfish to prioritize one’s own needs and well-being and not let others take advantage of their time, energy, or kindness.
Respect and stand up for yourself and set clear boundaries, just enough to protect your mental and emotional well-being.
5) You’re kind to yourself
In this world, we are often taught to be hard on ourselves—we push ourselves, criticize our own mistakes and compare ourselves to others.
However, mental strength is about showing kindness and compassion towards yourself.
Being kind to yourself means acknowledging that you’re human, and humans are not perfect.
In a sense, we all have flaws and make mistakes—and that’s okay!
Text time you stumble, remember to be kind to yourself.
6) You practice gratitude
There was a time in my life when everything seemed to be going wrong: I felt like I was constantly fighting uphill battles and nothing seemed to go my way.
It was during this low point that I began to practice gratitude.
Every day, I started writing down three things I was grateful for.
Some days it was hard, and all I could think of were simple things like a hot cup of coffee or a sunny day but, over time, I noticed a shift in my perspective.
Focusing on the positive didn’t make the negative aspects of my life disappear, but it made them seem less overwhelming—it reminded me that even during tough times, there were still good things happening around me.
Recognizing the good in your life, despite the struggles, is a testament to your resilience and optimism.
7) You focus on what you can control
Life is unpredictable as things can change in an instant, and often, these changes are out of our control—this can lead to feelings of helplessness and stress.
Mentally strong people, however, understand that while they cannot control everything that happens to them, they can control how they respond to it.
They focus their energy on actions that they can influence, rather than worrying about uncontrollable circumstances.
Focusing on what you can control means choosing to take charge of your actions and reactions—a green flag for yourself.
8) You don’t seek validation from others
One of the most significant signs of mental strength is the ability to validate yourself.
It’s human nature to seek approval and acceptance from those around us—however, mentally strong individuals understand their worth and do not rely on others to affirm it.
These people set their own standards and strive to meet them, and they take pride in their accomplishments, acknowledge their failures, and constantly work on self-improvement.
If you find happiness in your own achievements, without needing others’ validation, you’re a mentally stronger person than you think.
Remember, your value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth.
Final thoughts: It’s a journey
The path to building mental strength isn’t something that happens overnight—it’s a journey, a continuous process of self-discovery, learning, and growth.
You might not always feel strong, but mental strength is about rising each time you fall.
These signs reflect your resilience, courage, and growth.
Overall, it’s best to embrace change, learn from mistakes, set boundaries, and be kind to yourself.
Focus on what you can control, practice gratitude, and remember—your worth isn’t defined by others.
In the grand scheme of things, these signs indicate that you’re a mentally stronger person than you think, and that’s something to be proud of.
