This is year 2021 and it has finally dawned on man that mental health is just as important as physical health of a person.
Life keeps on knocking us down and the only thing left for us to do is stand up again. But, to do this, it is essential that we know how to be mentally and emotionally strong.
Mental and emotional strength are not things that a person is born with. We have to learn how to be mentally and emotionally strong through the course of life.
So, here are 9 tips on how to be mentally and emotionally strong.
1. Don’t Run from Your Emotions
We can run as fast as we want but it’s of no use if we are running away from our emotions. The escapist tendency may allow us temporary relief but in the long run, all the unresolved issues, all the untangled emotions may convert into emotional baggage. Without even us realising, emotional baggage can affect our relationships, both personal and professional.
Hence, it is necessary to take out time everyday to analyze our emotions to learn how to be mentally and emotionally strong. We need to understand what we are feeling and why. We need to process our thoughts and emotions to learn to react appropriately. Only then we can let it all go.
2. Learn to Say “NO” to Know How to be Mentally and Emotionally Strong
“No” is a complete sentence in itself. It is enough and doesn’t require the company of an explanation. Hence, it should be used often, especially if people around us are too happy with us and we are too sad with the people. Chances are, we might be putting too much effort at the expense of our own well-being.
Kindness is a virtue to cherish in every being. It simply means knowing when to stop giving people around us. It is based on the simple fact that we can’t pour from an empty jar.
3. Look Out for Red Flags
People around us can be responsible for our mental peace. It’s our job not let them take control of our emotions. The steering wheel should be in our hands. It is important that we keep the people who add to our peace close and those who don’t, very far.
We can never be sure about people. One can have many different faces. All we can do is never ignore the red flags. We don’t always listen to our intuition or pay attention to other people’s behaviour, especially when we enjoy being around them. But, the short-term fun can lead to long-term negative effects.
Here are a few red flag behaviours to look out for to know how to be mentally and emotionally strong:
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- Not talking about their issues
- Constantly testing their boundaries
- Irresponsible and immature
- Controlling behaviour
- Lacking trust
- Massive sense of entitlement
- Abusive behaviour
4. Establish and Keep Boundaries
“The boundary to what we can accept is the boundary to our freedom.”
― Tara Brach
It is wrong to constantly test our boundaries with other people, but it is never wrong to have one. In fact, establishing and keeping boundaries is imperative to know how to be mentally and emotionally strong.
The following are some ways to do this:
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- Know and name your limits
- Be direct with people
- Make self-care a priority
- Be assertive regarding your boundaries
- Start small
5. Take Good Care of Yourself
When Thanos said that all things should be perfectly balanced, we despised him. But, he was not entirely wrong. There’s no physical health without mental health and vice versa. It is important that we take care of ourselves in order to know how to be mentally and emotionally strong.
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- Exercise regularly
- Include meditation in your daily routine
- Eat a balanced diet
- Get at least 8 hours of sleep everyday
- Drink plenty of water, at least 8 glasses per day.
6. Slow Down when You Need
It is necessary to give yourself the required rest. We all are a part of a rat race and need to be fast to be seen. We need to be the best in order to survive. As harsh as it may seem, survival of the fittest has been the law of nature since the world came into being.
But, it doesn’t mean that we can’t slow down at times. Winning each and every fight isn’t the answer. Winning the decisive ones is and for that, we need to know how to be mentally and emotionally strong. Our body and mind need rest at regular intervals in order to deliver its best performance. Hence, it’s important that we slow down at times and take some rest.
7. Know when to Quit
They say quitting is for losers. But, is it? I have read the life stories of many successful people and I always noticed one thing common among all their stories. They knew when to quit. They knew that the world may laugh at them. They knew that they may be called losers for some time. But, it didn’t matter to them.
Knowing when to stop bestowing your energy on a task or a person is important in order to know how to be mentally and emotionally strong. Sometimes, quitting is the best thing we could do in order to move on to the next chapter of our lives. Most times, this chapter has something great in its hold that makes our efforts worthwhile. The important thing is to remember to turn the pages.
8. Be Kind to Yourself
How many times do we treat ourselves the way we would treat someone we loved? We are so kind to the world, but how many times do we show the same kindness to ourselves? We think that that kindness is reserved for the world, that we don’t deserve it.
But, that’s not true. Self-love is a sign of strength. We need our own kindness the most in order to know how to be mentally and emotionally strong.
9. Ask for Help when You Need it
When we keep on walking, there are going to be times when we stumble. Though we are fully capable of regaining our balance and keep on walking, the task becomes easier if someone holds us for a while, someone supports us till we are back on our feet.
Asking for help or accepting a helping hand is not a sign of weakness. It helps us to know how to be mentally and emotionally strong at times of crisis. It requires us to keep our pride aside and embrace someone else’s involvement in our issues and that requires strength.
It is necessary that we talk to friends and family about our problems and issues, tell them what’s bothering us and listen to them when they offer solutions. Sometimes, we may need professional help. It’s important that we keep in mind that there’s no shame in doing any of the above things. It only shows our immense strength.
Conclusion
“At the end of your struggles, challenges and obstacles comes the mental strength to cross many boundaries in the future.”
― Edmond Mbiaka
No one is born strong. We develop strength over the course of our life. It’s important to know how to be mentally and emotionally strong in order to take life’s knocks and keep going. After all, we are humans. We inflict and bear. And through it all, we learn.
Do you know any more ways to learn how to be mentally and emotionally strong? Share in the comment section below.
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