Strength is a word that often comes to my mind when I am exercising and feeling like I want to be done. It is at that precise moment that I muster up all my mental and physical energy to cross the finish line. Strength has several shades of meaning. Strength is the property of being physically strong (you can do, say, 100 push-ups) or mentally strong (you can calculate percentages in your head while people are shouting at you). It can be the measure of how much force or pressure something can withstand over time (like a dam) or its potency (like a pesticide) or its intensity level (like a wifi signal) or its fighting capabilities (like an army) or its speciality (like the way an animal can blend into the environment).
Physical strength gets alot of well deserved attention. Good physical health is important and can prevent conditions such as heart disease or diabetes, and can help you maintain a long, independent life. Eating right and exercising are ways to shape and maintain your health.
Equally important is having a healthy and strong mind (being mentally fit) which allows you to handle the challenges and opportunities that life puts in front of you. These past 15 months, we were winded by a major life event (Covid), and being able to recover requires significant mental strength and psychological resilience. The benefits of being mentally fit, while testing our limits, means we are able to use our mental abilities to our fullest extent, allowing us to be more creative, make the most of opportunities as they present themselves, and approach stressful situations more calmly and with less anxiety.
How exactly do we practice developing our mental fitness? Here are some helpful tips:
Practice being present
Move your body
Take a daily mindfulness break
Take self-care time
Set limits for yourself
Don’t be afraid to reach out for help
Just like physical strength, mental strength takes daily practice and can be achieved. My mantra that I repeat in my head is: I AM STRONG. I CAN DO IT. I CAN.
Believe in yourself. You can do anything!