What Is Mental Strength?
In the clinical world, mental strength is made up of three aspects: how you feel (emotions), how you think (thoughts), and how you act (behavior). Together, these form the 'Cognitive Triad' which we use as a measure of mental strength.
Just like how we exercise our bodies to strengthen muscles and improve physical health, we need to exercise our minds to be able to cope with our emotions and thought patterns that ultimately affect how we behave.
Science behind emotions, thoughts and behaviors
Every emotion that human beings go through is the result of a combination of hormonal releases. This simple act of 'feeling' creates physiological and biological changes in our body and brain.
Thinking and behaving is governed by the Amygdala, a part of our brain that is responsible for how we react and respond to situations. The Amygdala is guided by key chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. Dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins are the four main neurotransmitters involved in these brain and bodily changes.
Given how frequently we discuss thoughts and emotions in our daily life, it's imperative we understand their scientific significance and the ways in which they determine our quality of life.
Three Reasons why being mentally stronger matters
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1) It makes us more resilient: Being mentally stronger might not guarantee an easy life, but it gives you the resilience to face challenges life throws at you while keeping your core values.
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2) It correlates to better health in the long-term: Increasingly among millennials, psychological factors have become the top contributor to non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular illness, chronic diabetes and chronic hypertension. Being mentally stronger keeps brain chemicals and hormones in check, which leads to a positive long-term impact on your physical health.
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3) It fuels life purpose: Being mentally stronger keeps you motivated and enables you to connect better with yourself and others. It also helps you feel at your optimum at all times.
- Now that you understand the importance of mental strength, find out your mental strength score and learn what is impacting your emotions, thoughts and behaviors by taking the test below: