13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do

Amy Morin,LCSW, is a licensed cliical social worker, psychotherapist and author who wrote the book 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do. She states,

“As the author of, I often hear from people about which of the 13 things they struggle with the most. The second thing on the list—mentally strong people don't give away their power—is the one of the hardest.

A business executive confided in me that an associate always brings out the worst in him. A stay-at-home parent said the type of day she has rests almost entirely on what type of mood her spouse is in. It seems as though almost everyone has given someone else power over the way they think, feel, or behave in some fashion at one time or another.

Giving away your personal power robs you of mental strength. Making a conscious choice to take back your power is key to being in control in your life. But before you can create positive change, you need to recognize the ways in which you're giving your power away.”

Here are nine ways to keep your personal power.

1. Don't waste energy complaining.

There's a big difference between complaining and problem-solving. Venting to your friends, family, and co-workers keeps you focused on the problem and prevents you from creating a solution. Grumbling not only implies you have no power over your situation, but also shows you lack power over your attitude.

2. Accept responsibility for how you feel.

Saying your mother-in-law makes you feel bad about yourself or claiming your boss makes you mad suggests they have power over how you feel. Don't let other people's behavior dictate your emotions. Accept that it's completely up to you to manage your emotions, regardless of how other people behave.

3. Establish healthy boundaries.

Giving in to guilt trips and refusing to speak up for yourself gives power to other people. Rather than blame others for wasting your time or forcing you to do something, recognize that you're in charge of yourself. Establish healthy physical and emotional boundaries that give you control over how you spend your time and whom you spend it with.

4. Practice forgiveness.

Holding a grudge against someone who has hurt you doesn't punish the other person. Instead, it only punishes you. When you waste valuable time thinking about a person you feel wronged you, it takes away your ability to enjoy the moment.

Forgiving someone is the best way to take back your power. But to be clear, forgiveness isn't about saying what the person did was OK. Instead, it's about choosing to let go of the hurt and anger that interferes with your ability to enjoy life.

5. Know your values.

When you're not clear what your values are, you're at risk of becoming more like a helpless passenger, rather than a confident driver, in your own life. You'll be at risk of jumping on board with other people's ideas and you may be easily led astray. Take back your power by acknowledging your values and living true to what's important to you.

6. Don't waste time on unproductive thoughts.

Have you ever come home from work and spent the entire evening wishing you didn't have to go back again tomorrow? Suddenly, you're giving your eight-hour workday 12 hours of your time. Take control over the thoughts that occupy your mind so you don't give more brain power to areas of your life that don't deserve it.

7. Avoid language that implies you're a victim.

Saying things like "I have to work 60 hours a week," or "I had no choice but to say yes" infers you're a victim of unfortunate circumstances. While there will certainly be consequences for the decisions you make, acknowledge that you always have choices.

8. Make your self-worth independent of other's opinions.

If your self-worth depends on others holding you in high regard, you'll likely become a people-pleaser. Not everyone needs to like you, nor do they have to agree with your lifestyle. Evaluate the merit of criticism you receive, but never allow one person's opinion determine your self-worth.

9. Be willing to stand out from the crowd.

Self-doubt and fear can lead you to want to blend in with those around you. But, trying to fit in with the crowd will cause you to disguise who you really are. Trust that you're mentally strong enough to stand out and dare to be different.

One way to stay on track with not giving away your power is by working with a Life Coach or counselor. But you may be saying I don’t have time to meet with one.

That is where you can save yourself a lot of time by accessing a Life Coach or counselor by going online. Online counseling & Life Coaching can be done from the privacy of your home at a time that is convenient for you.

All you need is a laptop computer, tablet or smart phone with a Wi-Fi or cell connection. To have an online video counseling or coaching session. Or what we refer to as “counseling at your convenience.”

If online counseling is something you think you might be interested in and would like to find out more about how it works. Please click on the blue button below to learn more.