When I look back on my journey from Dental Technician to Dental Hygienist, then on to Dentist and Practice Owner, I recall the naysayers that said the journey would never culminate. Others, including a Dentist Boss told me I “wasn’t Dental School material” and another moaned when she reminded me “how long it would all take.”

I don’t recall where I first saw this list of characteristics, but I printed it out and I placed in on my desk where I could see it and read it regularly.  I realized that my journey in Dentistry progressed like it did because to some degree, one would have to be mentally strong to overcome all of those individuals who touted “it’ll never happen.” I was so struck by this list that I decided to research the author and found she wrote the book on 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do. Her name is Amy Morin and she’s a psychotherapist and lecturer at Northeastern University. 

In case you’ve never had the privilege of reading her book or any of her blogs, I thought you’d enjoy reading her 13 rules for mental strength.  This is a good time for introspection.

1. Waste Time Feeling Sorry For Themselves.  You don’t see mentally strong people feeling sorry for their circumstances or dwelling on the way they’ve been mistreated. They have learned to take responsibility for their actions and outcomes, and they have an inherent understanding of the fact that frequently life is not fair.  They are able to emerge from trying circumstances with self-awareness and gratitude for the lessons learned. When a situation turns out badly, they respond with phrases such as “Oh, well.” Or perhaps simply “Next!”
2. Give Away Their Power.  Mentally strong people avoid giving others the power to make them feel inferior or bad.  They understand they are in control of their actions and emotions.  They know their strength is in their ability to manage the way they respond.
3. Shy Away From Change.  Mentally strong people embrace change and they welcome challenge.  Their biggest “fear,” if they have one, is not of the unknown, but of becoming complacent and stagnant.  An environment of change and even uncertainty can energize a mentally strong person and bring out their best.
4. Waste Energy On Things They Cannot Control.  Mentally strong people don’t complain (much) about bad traffic, lost luggage, or especially about other people, as they recognize that all of these factors are generally beyond their control.  In a bad situation, they recognize that the one thing they can always control is their own response and attitude, and they use these attributes well.
5. Worry About Pleasing Others.  Know any people pleasers?  Or, conversely, people who go out of their way to dis-please others as a way of reinforcing an image of strength?  Nether position is a good one. A mentally strong person strives to be kind and fair and to please others where appropriate, but is unafraid to speak up.  They are able to withstand the possibility that someone will get upset and will navigate the situation, where ever possible, with grace.
6. Fear Of Taking Calculated Risks.  A mentally strong person is willing to take calculated risks.  This is a different thing entirely than jumping headlong into foolish risks.  But with mental strength, an individual can weigh the risks and benefits thoroughly, and will fully assess the potential downsides and even the worst-case scenarios before they take action.
7. Dwell On The Past.  There is strength in acknowledging the past and especially in acknowledging the things learned from past experiences-but a mentally strong person is able to avoid miring their mental energy in past disappointments or in fantasies of the “glory days” gone by.  They invest the majority of their energy in creating an optimal present and future.
8. Make The Same Mistakes Over And Over.  We all know the definition of insanity, right?  It’s when we take the same actions again and again while hoping for a different and better outcome than we’ve gotten before. A mentally strong person accepts full responsibility for past behavior and is willing to learn from mistakes.  Research shows that the ability to be self-reflective in an accurate and productive way is one of the greatest strengths of spectacularly successful executives and entrepreneurs.
9. Resent Other People’s Success.  It takes strength of character to feel genuine joy and excitement for other people’s success.  Mentally strong people have this ability.  They don’t become jealous or resentful when others succeed (although they may take close notes on what the individual did well).  They are willing to work hard for their own chances at success, without relying on shortcuts.
10. Give Up After Failure.  Every failure is a chance to improve.  Even the greatest entrepreneurs are willing to admit that their early efforts invariably brought many failures.  Mentally strong people are willing to fail again and again, if necessary, as long as the learning experience from every “failure” can bring them closer to their ultimate goals.
11. Fear Alone Time.  Mentally strong people enjoy and even treasure the time they spend alone.  They use their down time to reflect, to plan, and to be productive.  Most importantly, they don’t depend on others to shore up their happiness and moods.  They can be happy with others, and they can also be happy alone.
12. Feel The World Owes Them Anything.  Particularly in the current economy, executives and employees at every level are gaining the realization that the world does not owe them a salary, a benefits package and a comfortable life, regardless of their preparation and schooling.  Mentally strong people enter the world prepared to work and succeed on their own merits, at every stage of the game.
13. Expect Immediate Results.  Whether it’s a workout plan, a nutritional regime, or starting a business, mentally strong people are “in it for the long haul”.  They know better than to expect immediate results.  They apply their energy and time in measured doses and they celebrate each milestone and increment of success along the way.  They have “staying power”.  And they understand that genuine changes take time.

Looking for Dental Team Members who are mentally strong? Go to DentalStaffing.org today, post your practice profile and ask for it!

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“Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary.
It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body.
It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.”
- Winston Churchill