By Amy Morin, a licensed clinical social worker and an internationally recognized expert on mental strength
Without mental strength, we aren't likely to reach our physical fitness goals -- or any other goals for that matter. Building mental strength is the key to reaching our full potential in life.
There are a lot of misconceptions about what mental strength really is and why it's important. Here are the five biggest myths about mental strength:
Myth #1 -- The Idea That You Can Build Mental Strength Is a Fleeting Pop Psychology Trend
Building your mental muscle is a lot like building physical muscle. If you want to become physically stronger, you'll need healthy habits -- like going to the gym. You'll also have to give up unhealthy habits -- like eating junk food. Building mental strength requires healthy habits -- like practicing gratitude -- while also giving up unhealthy behavior, like giving up after the first failure.
Myth #2 -- People Are Either Mentally Strong or Mentally Weak
There aren't two categories of people -- the mentally strong and the mentally weak. Instead, everyone possesses mental strength to some degree and we all have the ability to become stronger. Just like you have to keep working out to stay physically strong, mental strength requires ongoing exercise and practice.
A person who is able to manage her emotions in most areas of her life, may struggle with one or two sore subjects that really trigger her to behave unproductively.
Myth #3 -- The Concept of Mental Strength Stigmatizes Mental Illness
Everyone has the ability to build mental strength, regardless of whether they have depression, anxiety, ADHD, or some other mental health issue. A person with depression, for example, may experience more negative thoughts than others, but that doesn't mean depressed people can't grow stronger.
People with a mental illness aren't mentally weak. In fact, many of them are incredibly strong. And just like everyone else, they possess the ability to create positive change in their lives.
Myth #4 -- Mental Strength Means Always Thinking Positively
Building mental strength doesn't mean you should start expecting great things to happen or that you should only think happy thoughts. In fact, thinking overly positive thoughts can be just as detrimental as thinking overly negative thoughts. Building mental strength is about training yourself to think rationally and realistically.
Myth #5 -- Mentally-Strong People Behave Like Robots
We make our best decisions in life when we're in control of our emotions -- rather than allowing our emotions to control us. Mentally strong people are able to recognize when their feelings are likely to lead to unhealthy behavior and they proactively take steps to regulate those emotions.
