Like physical strength, mental strength requires healthy habits, exercise, and hard work. Publisher, Amy Morin’s 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do: Take Back Your Power, Embrace Change, Face Your Fears, and Train Your Brain for Happiness and Success

As a therapist Amy Morin has regularly witnessed the cultivation of mental strength in her clients’ lives. Notably, her related post called “13 Things That Mentally Strong People Don’t Do” appealed to so many readers it went viral. (The link will lead you to it, including her explanations—or scroll down to the end of this post for the main points.)

So last December Morin followed up with a book. In it she admits to some deeply affecting and challenging experiences of her own, e.g., the deaths of her mother, husband, and father-in-law in a relatively short period. In the video below, she explains further:

As the author states above, being mentally strong is not about putting on an act. In an article that originally appeared in Forbes, Morin outlines, in fact, “7 Key Differences Between Being Mentally Strong And Acting Tough”:

 1. Tough people believe failure is never an option. “Mentally strong people believe failure is part of the process toward a long journey to success.”

2. Self-portrayals of toughness mask insecurities. “Mentally strong people invest more energy into working on their weaknesses, rather than trying to cover them up.”

3. Tough people say, “I can do anything.” “Mental strength is about recognizing shortcomings and acknowledging the hard work needed to reach a goal.”

4. Acting tough involves pride. “Strong people are willing to ask others for help and they don’t need to be completely self-reliant.”

5. Tough people suppress emotions. “Being strong requires acute awareness of emotions and how those feelings can influence thoughts and behavior.”

6. Tough people thrive on power. “Mentally strong people focus their energy on being in control of their own thoughts, feelings, and behavior, rather than always trying to control external circumstances and people.”

7. Acting tough is about tolerating pain. “Mentally strong people don’t just tolerate pain – they learn from it.”

More recently Morin shared with Kathy Caprino, Huffington Post, “the five most critical strategies of the 13 that help people stay mentally strong.” Click on the link for details.

1. Exchanging self-pity for gratitude

2. Focusing on what I could control

3. Living in the present 

4. Retaining my personal power

5. Embracing change

All 13 “things mentally strong people don’t do”:

1. They Don’t Waste Time Feeling Sorry for Themselves

2. They Don’t Give Away Their Power

3. They Don’t Shy Away from Change

4. They Don’t Waste Energy on Things They Can’t Control

5. They Don’t Worry About Pleasing Everyone

6. They Don’t Fear Taking Calculated Risks

7. They Don’t Dwell on the Past

8. They Don’t Make the Same Mistakes Over and Over

9. They Don’t Resent Other People’s Success

10. They Don’t Give Up After the First Failure

11. They Don’t Fear Alone Time

12. They Don’t Feel the World Owes Them Anything

13. They Don’t Expect Immediate Results