Eric Kimble

13 Things Mentally Strong People Avoid

1 – Wasting time feeling sorry for themselves.
Successful people don’t worry about their current situation or what has happened to them in the past. They realize that life can often be unfair. They focus on lessons learned and on new opportunities to be found.

2 – Giving away their power.
Strong people understand they are always in control of their actions and emotions, and avoid sinking to the level of a negative person. There’s an old saying: Never wrestle a pig because you’ll both get dirty and the pig likes that.

3 – Shying away from change.
Successful people see change as an important part of growth. They realize it is necessary to avoid stagnation and falling behind. They embrace challenges.

4 – Wasting energy on things they can’t control.
Mentally strong people don’t spend their time talking about bad weather, politics, or other people. Instead, they focus on controlling their reactions, attitudes, and other things that are in their control.

5 – Worrying about what other people think of them.
Successful people rid themselves of the fear of criticism. They may please others when appropriate, but always have the confidence to speak up. They realize not everyone shares their opinions, and are not afraid that someone else might get upset.

6 – Fearing calculated risks.
Strong people will take calculated risks when appropriate. They will weigh the risks against the benefits, and even consider the worst case scenario. They realize there are very few things in life that come without risk.

7 – Dwelling on the past.
Successful people realize the past is over. They learn lesson from it and move on. Rather than praying for a return to the good old days, successful people put their energy into building the future.

8 – Making the same mistakes over and over.
There’s generally nothing terribly wrong with making a mistake, but successful people learn from their mistakes and adjust their plans accordingly. They don’t do the same thing over and over, hoping for different results.

9 – Resenting other people’s success.
Rather than becoming jealous, mentally strong people will embrace the success of others, realizing that a rising tide lifts all ships. They will study what other successful people have done and incorporate this into their own plans.

10 – Giving up after failure.
Thomas Edison “failed” a thousand times before he invented the light bulb. In reality, he discovered a thousand ways that it would not work. Failure simply means it is time to adjust your plans. Every failure brings you one step closer to success.

11 – Fearing alone time.
Mentally strong people value quiet time alone. They enjoy the opportunity to rest, as well as refine their plans. They do not depend on others for their happiness.

12 – Feeling the world owes them something.
Successful people realize that education and experience do not guarantee prosperity. They believe in succeeding based on value they bring now, rather than in the past. They are entitled only to that which they earn.

13 – Expecting immediate results.
Mentally strong people know that results take time. They believe in The Slight Edge concept, and focus on small goals along the way. They are in it for the long run and are not quitters.

Adapted from Forbes.