14 Traits of Mentally Strong People

This power is manifested both in what we do and in what we choose not to do. The point is to respond to the emotions that arise in a healthy and productive way. What qualities distinguish psychologically strong people?

1. They are self-sufficient

They have a clear and developed sense of their own «I». They are not codependent, not prone to manipulation or control. They know how to solve their own problems. They are not afraid of solitude, but they are not afraid of the company of people either. They do not want to be «rescued» and do not themselves try to «rescue» and radically change others.

They don’t need others to deal with their emotions, and they don’t take out their emotions on others either.

2. They have healthy self-esteem.

Sometimes healthy high self-esteem is confused with narcissism, which is characterized by false self-confidence, disrespect for others, a tendency to manipulate others, the pursuit of signs of status, money, fame, power, etc.

At the same time, a person does not overestimate, but also does not underestimate his self-esteem. He knows and accepts his strengths and weaknesses well. He knows how to evaluate himself, so he does not depend on other people’s compliments and calmly reacts to criticism.

3. They actively act, not passively wait.

They realize that they are in charge of their own lives. If problems arise, they weigh all possible options and make a decision.

A passive person in such situations usually feels an overabundance of stress or alienation, as a result, he becomes paralyzed and incapable of action. Those who are used to reacting to what is happening usually do it automatically, instead of making deliberate decisions. People who are prone to passivity or automatic reactions most often do not realize at all what decisions they are making.

Strong and active people are well aware of their own emotions, thoughts and motives. They love life, despite the challenges it brings.

4. They think rationally and live in the present

They see reality as it is, with the help of reason, logic, observation and common sense. Irrational people, in turn, even if they reason logically, still come to conclusions that seem reasonable to them, but objectively turn out to be very short-sighted or simply absurd.

Strong personalities are able to accept reality without deceiving themselves or losing control of their emotions. They are in the present moment, not dwelling on the past or worrying endlessly about the future.

5. They are “emotionally intelligent” and able to look inside themselves.

Strong people are well aware of their own emotions. They know how they feel, why, and what meaning these experiences have in the context of their lives.

They avoid hustle and bustle. Able to pause and think about everything that happens in the inner and outer world. They make decisions based on their true feelings and real circumstances. They are able to overcome old mental traumas in order to grow and develop further.

6. They have developed empathy and compassion

Psychologically strong people understand themselves well, thanks to which they are able to understand others. Empathy does not necessarily mean that they always agree with others or approve of their actions. But they understand well how people feel, what they think and why they behave the way they do. Since they are aware of the experiences of other people, they are always ready to show sympathy for those who are really hurt.

7. They are adaptable

The ability to adapt is one of the most useful qualities in life. They are able to quickly adapt to change and keep their cool in an unexpected or unpleasant situation. Since unforeseen circumstances in life are inevitable, the ability to adapt gives a great boost of confidence. Therefore, strong people, although they allow options for the development of events, do not worry too much about this, because they know that in which case they will cope with everything.

8. They know what is up to them and what is not, and they recognize this fact.

Such people know that much does not depend on them. The desire to keep everything under control is a sign of chronic anxiety and insecurity. They are well aware of what they can control and what they can’t. By stopping focusing on what is beyond their control, they discover new opportunities for themselves and become happier.

9. They focus on their lives

Instead of worrying about what is out of their control or making grandiose plans, strong personalities try to live as healthy and conscious lives as possible.

They do not play social games and prefer not to associate with those who are prone to it. Do not follow any ideology, do not become fanatical followers of social, political or philosophical ideas. They do not try to change everyone around them to suit their taste. They don’t care what their neighbor thinks or what he does wrong. They do not follow others on social networks and do not start disputes and scandals with them.

Instead, they actively improve their own lives, starting with themselves and their immediate environment and not showing aggression towards others.

10. They admit that no one owes them anything.

If they want something, they must take the initiative themselves to achieve it. They accept the fact that life is not always fair and everyone has different starting conditions. But it does not follow from this that one can treat others unfairly.

11. They are ready to help others.

At a fundamental level, everyone is responsible for their own life. No one is obligated to help others if they don’t want to. We owe nothing to anyone, just as no one owes us anything. Mentally strong people care about others and are willing to help. But helping others for them is an act of kindness, not a duty. They are ready to help, but at the same time they do not take responsibility for someone else’s well-being, just like they do not shift responsibility for their lives to anyone. They are generous and caring, but they are not tormented by guilt and false responsibility.

12. They maintain healthy relationships

Healthy relationships are based on established boundaries. Strong personalities treat others fairly, that is, they love and respect those who deserve it, do not waste resources (time, money, energy) on «toxic» people and are not ready to tolerate their inappropriate behavior.

At the same time, when faced with unhealthy attitudes or «toxic» behavior, they consciously decide how best to respond, rather than succumb to the influence of emotions or just passively accept what happened. They regularly reassess their relationships with others and draw certain conclusions that help them maintain the boundaries they have set.

13. They don’t try to please everyone.

No matter who you are, there will always be people who dislike you. You can’t say that you like absolutely everything, can you? Likewise, you cannot please everyone. Psychologically strong individuals do not treat anyone unfairly or aggressively, but at the same time they know that there will inevitably be those who will criticize or reject them.

14. They know how to say «no»

A strong person knows when to say no. He understands where his zone of emotional responsibility ends and the zone of responsibility of another begins.

He can stand up for himself without problems and has learned well that the answer to violations of boundaries, aggression or unfair treatment is best with a firm “no”. He does not experience guilt or shame in connection with this, on the contrary, it gives him a sense of freedom.