They say that training for a marathon is 20 percent training and 80 percent mental strength. The same can be said for entrepreneurship (recite your favorite inspiring quote about how starting up is like training for a marathon). While starting a company can be a fulfilling experience, if you’re really putting yourself out there with a new venture, there will undoubtedly be some mistakes, failures, and rejections along the way.
To keep plugging along, a good deal of mental strength is required. We’ve previously given you advice on how to stay in top physical shape, now here are some tips on how to keep yourself mentally strong for the times when you have no choice but to persevere.
1. Acknowledge Your Emotions
Mentally strong people acknowledge their emotions rather than repress them. They are open about feeling sadness, embarrassment, and disappointment. They can deal with uncomfortable situations and cope with discomfort in a healthy manner.
2. Treat Yourself with Compassion
It always helps to be kind to yourself when faced with adversity. Negative self-talk has never really helped anyone.
3. Use Mantras to Encourage Positive Thinking
Sometimes it’s hard to think positively. Thankfully the Internet is chock full of motivational quotes to help us get our minds back on track. One way to be compassionate towards yourself is to remember these mantras.
4. Learn from Your Mistakes
We all make mistakes, we’re not robots, but the best thing to do is to learn from them. Whenever you get knocked down, ask yourself what lessons can be gained from this. See it as an opportunity for self-growth. Understand it either as a specific thing that needs improvement, or as a general recognition that mistakes will happen and it’s not the end of the world.
5. Remember That You Can’t Please Everyone
If you’re naturally a people-pleaser, the best thing you can do for your mental health is to snap out of that mindset. According to psychotherapist Amy Morin, author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, mentally strong people are “not afraid to or speak up when necessary. They strive to be kind and fair, but can handle other people being upset if they didn’t make them happy.”
6. Don’t Feel Sorry for Yourself
At least not forever. After a major setback I tend to allow myself 24hrs of wallowing, then I brush myself off and move on. Life is not always easy or fair. Take responsibility for your role in life and what you can control.
7. Control Your Inputs
Your mind is constantly receiving information from all over the place. A lot of times it is out of your control but you can control some of it. You can manage what your mind receives from news, media and other people.
