Building Mental Toughness

‍What does it mean to be mentally strong? If you believe best-selling author and researcher Brene Brown, “The core of mental toughness is actually self-compassion. People who are mentally tough stay mentally tough because they don’t slip easily into shame or self-criticism or self-loathing.Self-compassion is treating yourself with kindness, understanding, and acceptance during struggle, failure, or perceived inadequacy. It involves acknowledging our imperfections and responding with empathy rather than self-criticism.

When it comes to personal growth and achieving success, self-compassion is a powerful tool that can empower you, strengthen your resilience, and help you overcome failures.

Studies have suggested that individuals who cultivate self-compassion experience higher levels of empowerment, grit, and resilience. Self-compassionate people are more likely to set and pursue challenging goals, persevere in the face of obstacles, and view setbacks as opportunities for growth.

By adopting a supportive and understanding mindset towards ourselves, research suggests we become better equipped to face life's difficulties and bounce back from setbacks.

To become more successful, lean into self-compassion, learn from your failures, and use them as stepping stones towards something better.If you want to start building more self-compassion, start with any of the following four habits:

‍Self-talk: Replace self-critical thoughts with kind and understanding inner dialogue. Treat yourself as you would a close friend.

‍Mindfulness: Practice being present and non-judgmental towards your experiences, allowing yourself to feel emotions without judgment.

‍Support-seeking: Reach out to trusted friends, family, or professionals for support and discussion during challenging times.

I know this is much easier said than done but I also feel that some things are worth the effort and even if we only try one of the suggestions it will be time well spent!