“13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do” is a self-help book written by Amy Morin, a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and college psychology instructor. In this book, Morin shares practical strategies for developing mental strength and resilience, based on her personal experience and her work with clients.
What You Avoid Gives You Strength
The book’s main premise is that mental strength is not just about what you do, but also about what you don’t do. According to Morin, mentally strong people avoid certain habits and behaviors that can hold them back in life. These include things like dwelling on the past, fearing change, and seeking validation from others.
What to Avoid
Through the book’s thirteen chapters, Morin highlights each of these “don’ts” in detail and offers practical tips for overcoming them. Some of the key takeaways include:
- Mentally strong people don’t waste time feeling sorry for themselves. Instead, they focus on taking positive action to address their problems.
- They don’t shy away from change. Instead, they embrace it as an opportunity for growth and development.
- They don’t let their emotions control them. Instead, they learn to manage their feelings in healthy and productive ways.
- They don’t give up after failure. Instead, they use setbacks as an opportunity to learn and improve.
Develop Mental Strength and Resilence
By following these principles, Morin argues that readers can develop greater mental strength, resilience, and overall well-being. The book is filled with practical exercises and real-life examples to help readers apply these principles in their own lives.
So how can readers use this book to change their daily lives? Firstly, by identifying which of the 13 things they are currently doing and then taking steps to stop doing them. Secondly, by implementing the strategies suggested by Morin for building mental strength and resilience.
Dealing with Adversity and Stress
The points of resilience in the book lie in learning how to better cope with adversity and stress, by developing healthier ways of thinking and behaving. To move past these points of resilience, readers can start by practicing self-awareness, identifying their negative thoughts and behaviors, and working on replacing them with more positive alternatives. This can involve seeking support from others, such as a therapist or a support group, to help reinforce positive changes.
Here the full list of 13 things that mentally strong people don’t do:
- They don’t waste time feeling sorry for themselves
- They don’t give away their power
- They don’t shy away from change
- They don’t focus on things they can’t control
- They don’t worry about pleasing everyone
- They don’t fear taking calculated risks
- They don’t dwell on the past
- They don’t make the same mistakes over and over
- They don’t resent other people’s success
- They don’t give up after failure
- They don’t fear alone time
- They don’t feel the world owes them anything
- They don’t expect immediate results
Next steps you can take:
- Identify which of these 13 things you might be doing and take steps to stop doing them.
- Start implementing the strategies suggested by Amy Morin in the book.
- Practice self-awareness to identify negative thoughts and behaviors, and work on replacing them with more positive alternatives.
- Seek support from others, such as a therapist or support group, to help reinforce positive changes.
- Remember that building mental strength and resilience is a process and won’t happen overnight. Be patient and persistent in your efforts.
- Celebrate your successes along the way, no matter how small they may seem. Recognise the progress you’ve made and keep moving forward.
Moving Forwards
“13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do” is a valuable resource for anyone looking to develop greater mental strength and resilience. By following Morin’s practical advice and implementing the strategies she suggests, readers can build the skills they need to overcome life’s challenges and lead a more fulfilling life.