Learn to recognize your true opinions, rather than letting yourself be swayed by what other people think. [2] X Expert Source Kirsten Parker, MFAMindset & Action Coach Expert Interview. 22 July 2020. Trust yourself to know the right way to handle a situation. Don’t compare yourself to other people. It’s a rabbit hole many of us fall into time and time again, but comparing yourself to others undermines your self-esteem. Next time you’re faced with a decision, look inward. Learn to say no. People will respect your opinion more if you actually say what you think. Always look them in the eye when saying no, so they’ll know that you’re sure.
Before you do anything, take a deep breath and count to ten. This well-known trick for keeping yourself together really does work. After 10 seconds, the first surge of emotion will calm down a bit. Channel your energy instead of unleashing it on other people. Exercising, writing in a journal, and practicing meditation are good ways to give your emotions a positive output.
Worrying excessively about other people’s judgments is a waste of your time. It’s a given that people will disagree with you and judge your choices sometimes; that’s their problem. As long as what you’re doing isn’t hurting other people, you’re fine. Don’t be a hothead. Traffic jams, lines at the post office, and other annoyances are not worth losing your temper. If you can’t handle mailing a package without having a meltdown, how are you going to handle a real problem?
Break your goals down into manageable steps and set a schedule for completing them. This way you’ll know exactly what needs to be done in order to get to the finish line. Be ruthlessly persistent. If you give up before you’ve met your goal, you’re letting yourself down. Don’t allow yourself to lose interest or get tired of working hard.
Admit when you’ve done something wrong. It’s a misconception that in order to be tough, you’ve got to act like you’re always right. In fact, the opposite is true: tough people are willing to endure the discomfort of owning up to their mistakes.
Resist the temptation to ignore your problems by indulging in escapist behaviors. Using drugs and alcohol, watching too much TV, staying up all night online, gambling and other similar behaviors will make it harder to clearly see reality.
Let’s say you get a piece of bad news: you weren’t admitted into the program you applied for. What are the possible paths you can take from here? Is there a wrong way to react? What’s the right way?
Trusted friends and family members are good people to confide in when you have a big decision to make. Take their advice with a grain of salt, though, since people who know you, even if they love you very much, might have their own personal stake in the decision you make. For example, your mom would prefer you didn’t move to a different town, her advice about what college you should choose might be loaded with her emotions. Going to a therapist or counselor is a great idea when you feel a professional opinion could be useful.
There are exceptions to this rule - like when the action you took was actually wrong. Don’t automatically get defensive if you’re accused of being in the wrong. Think clearly about what happened and decide if you’re still on board with your original actions. If you realize that it would have been better to do something different, admit it.
Get plenty of sleep. This will keep your body healthy and help you stay mentally alert. Aim for 7-8 hours per night. Make it a priority![10] X Research source Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits. Making these a mainstay of your diet will provide the vitamins and nutrients your mind needs to stay strong. [11] X Research source Exercise. Cardio and strength training will keep your body and brain in good shape. [12] X Research source Destress. If your world is cluttered up with a million things to do, it’ll affect your power to make good decisions.
Show your family, friends and colleagues, that you’re trustworthy and dependable. Answer emails and calls promptly and be there for people when you’re needed. Take on a leadership role in your community. You could volunteer your time to help others, coach a little league team, start a neighborhood garden, and so on. Have a stake in your community!
