Individuals who have developed mental strength have done so by working toward that goal each day. They haven’t let setbacks, negative feedback, or hectic schedules prevent them from continuing to reach for their vision. In this article, Inner Matrix Systems – a personal mastery training system for high achievers – shares strategies to build mental strength, such as reframing negative thoughts, acknowledging small wins, taking consistent actions that challenge you, and more.
Table of Contents
Reframe negative thoughts
How we talk to ourselves makes a difference. In the same way our children retreat from harsh words and question their abilities if continually assaulted with negativity, we too are affected by negative thoughts and internal dialog.
Develop a pattern of immediately finding the “upside” in every situation. Do not allow yourself to engage in negative self-talk. You deserve respect, so treat yourself respectfully.
Acknowledge small victories
Small wins add up. To stay motivated, acknowledge what you do right. Let yourself get addicted to the slight rush of adrenaline you receive each time you pat yourself on the back.
Success is won one step at a time. By celebrating these victories, you reinforce beneficial learned behaviors. As you learn new ways to achieve your goals, integrate them into your winning formula.
Challenge yourself
The best way to build confidence in your ability to do hard things is to do hard things regularly. They don’t have to be momentous undertakings but stretch yourself routinely.
Developing mental strength is not unlike building physical strength. It requires increased resistance and repeated effort.
Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness is all about being present in the moment. The only time you can change your behavior is right now; it’s crucial to focus on the here-and-now.
Mindfulness works in concert with reframing negative thoughts and being grateful. When you are mindful, you can easily catch those negative thoughts and dialog before they wreak too much havoc. You are also more likely to notice those things you are grateful for when practicing mindfulness.
Be grateful
Studies have shown that experiencing gratitude changes your brain. As part of your mindfulness exercises, keep a gratitude journal. Intentionally express gratitude to others and acknowledge those people, things, and experiences you are grateful for.
Many successful people follow a strict regimen of beginning their day by creating a list of things they are grateful for. Try it. Add one item to your list every day for two weeks without repeating what’s already on the list. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much more you will notice the good things in your life.
Developing mental strength is essential for living your best life – so make it a priority. It will make achieving your goals and realizing your vision much easier to accomplish. Just as you invest in keeping yourself physically fit to have the energy needed to succeed, make that same investment in your mental health and wellbeing.
About Inner Matrix Systems
Inner Matrix Systems, based in Denver, is a personal mastery training system for high achievers. For more than twenty years, IMS has delivered a proprietary methodology that rewires, trains, and aligns the nervous system, emotions, and thought strategies to create real-life results. CEO, Joey Klein, and IMS have worked with more than 80,000 individuals from around the world through both live and online training programs, as well as one-on-one coaching. Clients have included: Boeing, IBM, Dell, Google, Panda Express, Coca Cola and The World Health Organization. Joey is the author of The Inner Matrix: Leveraging the Art & Science of Personal Mastery to Create Real Life Results (June 2021).
