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Mentally Strong People Do These 5 Things

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You likely spend time thinking about your physical strength, thinking about how you can exercise or eat healthy. But what about your mental strength? Becoming mentally strong, according to psychologist and author Amy Morin, means that you “manage your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in a way that sets you up for success in life.”

The foundation of mental strength is the ability to separate your identity from your emotions or the events in your life. Maybe you’re feeling lonely, or you fail an exam, or you email ten professionals and none of them respond. Experiencing these emotions and events can be challenging, but they don’t mean that you as a person are unworthy or a failure.

Mentally strong people have bad days and experience failure just like everyone else. The difference is in how they respond to these obstacles. The good news is that anyone can develop their mental strength. 

Here are five habits of mentally strong people that you can work on adopting: 

1. Stay grounded in your self-worth.

It’s natural to compare yourself to others. Social media makes this easier than ever. Maybe one of your friends got into an Ivy League college, your other friend is on vacation in Hawaii, and another friend got hired at Google. All while you’re alone in your room struggling to find a job or pass a class.

Know that your self-worth is not defined by the college you attend or a company on your resume or what other people say about you on social media. You are valuable because you are alive, and you are an important part of many different communities. Rather than focusing on what other people think of you, think about your own growth and how you can serve others.  

2. Embrace and adapt to change.

For many people, the years from 18 to 25 are when some of life’s biggest changes happen. Many young people attend college, move to a new city, get their first full-time job, and become mature adults during this life phase.

But change isn’t all positive or easy, as the world collectively experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Change is often painful and disorienting. But it can also be adventurous and exhilarating.

Look for small opportunities to get out of your comfort zone, such as conducting career conversations with professionals you’ve never met, taking up a new creative hobby, or setting a challenging goal for yourself. These small steps will help you build the muscle of being resilient—or even comfortable with—change in all areas of your life.

“Mental toughness is a state of mind. You could call it character in action.” – Vince Lombardi

3. Focus more on the process than on results.

The Career Launch Method is intentionally designed to give you a concrete process for action. Your results—getting an internship or job—are not guaranteed, nor are they fully within your control. But if you change your definition of success from getting a job to following the process and building relationships, you’ll put yourself in the best position to achieve your goals.

This applies in school as well. Rather than worrying about what grade you get on an exam, worry about how well you know the material. This doesn’t mean that goals aren’t important motivators, because they are. But by building positive habits, you will build the resilience for when times are tough and set yourself up for success. You can control your actions. Direct your focus there.

4. Learn from mistakes.

One time in a job interview, I made an inappropriate comment about customers from a poor neighborhood. I was really embarrassed, and obviously didn’t get the job. But that experience taught me a valuable lesson to always speak about others with respect and professionalism.

Mistakes aren’t comfortable, but they are excellent teachers. It’s inevitable that you’ll make mistakes, but you should always ensure you intentionally learn from your mistakes. One way to do this is to develop a habit of journaling, and write down habits you want to practice or lessons you learn.

Many students avoid situations where they might make mistakes to keep failure at a safe distance. However, this habit will prevent you from learning and growing. Mistakes are an important and natural byproduct of taking bold action. You should try to improve when you make mistakes rather than try to avoid them.

You should also do your best to learn from the mistakes of others through your personal relationships and mentors as well as through books, videos, and podcasts. Take advantage of the many life lessons that have been learned and shared by others. 

5. Offer support and gratitude to others.

There’s a powerful quote from Zig Ziglar, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”

Adding value to other people’s lives—in school, work, and your personal life—is both the right thing to do and the best way to achieve your goals. When you are just starting out in your career, you might struggle to see how you can be useful to others. But by being curious, kind, grateful, and hard-working, you will soon find just how meaningful and beneficial it is to support others.

Success isn’t achieved alone, and neither is happiness. By trying to actively serve others and downplaying your own ego, you will build positive relationships that will benefit you for the rest of your life. 

Sean O’Keefe is an award-winning professor, respected researcher, and sought-after speaker on creating social capital, career readiness, internships, and jobs. He is the founder and chief impact officer of Career Launch, a social enterprise that partners with colleges and career programs to equitably scale students’ ability to create professional relationships and launch effective job or internship searches in the hidden job market. He earned his BA in communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his MBA from Santa Clara University. He is the author of LAUNCH YOUR CAREER: How ANY Student Can Create Relationships with Professionals and Land the Jobs and Internships They Want (Berrett-Koehler Publishers), written in partnership with The Career Leadership Collective.

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Change Your Mindset

The Secret Daily Routines Behind History’s Most Brilliant Thinkers

Uncover the daily rituals and hidden habits that powered history’s most brilliant minds to success.

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Why Daily Rituals Matter

Every great achiever has one thing in common: discipline. Behind the novels, inventions, discoveries, and masterpieces are small, consistent habits repeated daily. (more…)

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Did You Know

How to Turn a Simple Link-in-Bio Into a Powerful Brand Hub

Transform your forgotten bio link into a high-impact gateway that fuels engagement, clicks, and conversions across every social platform.

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Social media is one of the greatest marketing tools in 2025. According to a recent study, some 86% of marketers globally use platforms like Facebook and Instagram for advertisements, while 94% use it for content distribution.  (more…)

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Personal Development

These 11 Habits Will Make You More Productive, Successful, and Confident

Boost your focus, confidence, and results with 11 powerful habits successful people use every day.

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Successful people love to help beginners. They have an incredible work ethic and rarely complain. As a result, others naturally look up to them and want to follow in their footsteps.

But here’s the truth: there’s no success without sacrifice. You’ll need to give up comfort, excuses, and sometimes even social approval to accomplish your goals.

Value comes from solving problems, and these 11 powerful tips will help you become more productive, successful, and confident, starting today.

1. Take Short Breaks After Finishing a Task

Psychology shows it’s important to reward positive behaviour.

After completing a big task or finishing a book, take five minutes to walk, stretch, or simply breathe. This quick reset helps your brain recharge and strengthens focus.

Many great writers swear by morning walks, solitude, and reflection can unlock creativity.

But if you refuse to take breaks, don’t be surprised when burnout hits. Your brain needs recovery time just as much as your body does.

2. Schedule Your Most Important Tasks First

Multitasking kills productivity. If you want to get more done, try time blocking, a method where you dedicate set periods for specific tasks.

Productivity expert Caitlin Hughes explains, “Time blocking involves scheduling blocks of time for your tasks throughout the day.”

For example, if you’re a writer:

  • Research your topic at night.

  • Write your first draft in the morning (don’t worry if it’s rough).

  • Edit in the afternoon, great writing comes from rewriting.

You can’t buy more time. Use it intentionally and without regret.

3. Eliminate Distractions from Your Workspace

Focus is the foundation of success.

According to Inc. Magazine, it takes an average of 23 minutes to recover from a distraction. That’s nearly half an hour of lost productivity every time you check your phone.

Put your phone away. Close unnecessary tabs. And yes, limit your Netflix binges.

Meeting deadlines consistently is one of the fastest ways to stand out and earn respect.

4. Take Full Responsibility for Your Life

Entrepreneur Derek Sivers once said, “Everything is my fault.”

This mindset doesn’t mean self-blame; it means self-ownership. Stop pointing fingers, making excuses, or waiting for others to change.

If your habits (like smoking or drinking too much) hold you back, it’s time to make better choices. Your friends can’t live your dreams for you; only you can.

5. Invest an Hour a Day in Learning New Skills

Knowledge compounds over time.

Whether you read books, take online courses, or practise a craft, consistent learning gives you a competitive edge.

I used to struggle with academic writing, but I improved by studying the work of great authors and applying what I learned.

Your past doesn’t define you; your actions do. Every new skill adds another tool to your arsenal and makes you more unstoppable.

6. Develop a Growth Mindset

Psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck introduced the concept of fixed vs. growth mindset.

  • A fixed mindset believes success is based on natural talent.

  • A growth mindset believes success comes from effort and learning.

Choose the growth mindset. Embrace challenges. See failures as feedback. In today’s fast-moving digital world, adaptability is your biggest advantage.

7. Learn Marketing to Reach People Who Need You

I once believed marketing was manipulative, until I realised it’s about helping people solve problems.

If your work provides genuine value, marketing is how you let others know it exists. Even Apple spends billions on it.

Don’t be ashamed to promote your skills or business. Without visibility, your ideas will never reach the people who need them most.

Creative professionals who understand marketing and sales have an unfair advantage.

8. Ask Your Mentor the Right Questions

Good mentors can fast-track your growth.

While mentorship often costs money, it’s one of the best investments you can make. Great mentors don’t care about titles; they care about your progress.

If you don’t have access to a mentor yet, books are your silent mentors. Read the best in your field, take notes, and apply what resonates.

9. Build Confidence Through Action, Not Affirmations

Author Ryan Holiday once said, “I don’t believe in myself. I have evidence.”

Confidence doesn’t come from shouting affirmations into the mirror; it comes from proof. Doing hard things, keeping promises to yourself, and following through.

When you consistently take action, your brain gathers evidence that you can handle whatever comes next. That’s real confidence, grounded, earned, and unshakable.

10. Focus on Your Strengths

Your strengths reveal where your greatest impact lies.

If people compliment you on something often, it’s a clue. Lean into it.

A former professor once told me I was creative, and that simple comment gave me the confidence to go all in. I studied creativity, applied it daily, and turned it into my career advantage.

Double down on your strengths. That’s how you build momentum and mastery.

11. Identify and Challenge Your Limiting Beliefs

Your beliefs shape your reality.

For years, I believed I couldn’t be a great writer because of my chronic tinnitus and astigmatism, sensory challenges that made concentration difficult. But over time, I realised those struggles made me more disciplined, observant, and empathetic.

Your limitations can become your greatest motivators if you let them.

Avoid shortcuts. Growth takes time, but it’s always worth it.

Final Thoughts

Becoming productive, successful, and confident isn’t about working harder than everyone else. It’s about working smarter, consistently, and intentionally.

You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Start small: take a break after your next task, schedule your priorities, or spend one hour learning something new.

Every habit you change compounds into long-term success. Remember, true change comes from practising new behaviours.

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Success Advice

Why One-Size-Fits-All Leadership Will Always Fail (and What Works Instead)

The surprising truth about leadership styles that can make or break your team’s success.

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Why one-size-fits-all leadership doesn’t work
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Leadership has always been as much about people as it is about performance. Ken Blanchard, in his influential book, “The One Minute Manager”, put it simply: different strokes for different folks. (more…)

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