3 mindsets to unlock resilience & mental toughness
In this podcast (episode #586) and blog, I talk about 3 mindsets that will strengthen your mental resilience so that you are not blindsided by life!
This is a replay of a Neurolive webinar I did on my app. For the full webinar AD-free, please see Neurocycle.app.
Life is filled with ups and downs, and sometimes, when we least expect it, those downs can really hit us, leaving us blindsided, confused and overwhelmed. Even though our resilience is unlimited, if we don’t work on unlocking this resilience when life is calm and we are at peace, it can become “locked up” when we need it most.
Thankfully, there is a great way to practice tapping into your resilience reserves so that it becomes a habit when you need it most: changing your mindset. A mindset is a way that your mind functions, like a habit. It is the way you “set” your mind, literally! Like planting your garden in the spring yields amazing results all year if you do it right, deliberately choosing and practicing a mindset can really help you when life hits hard. That is why I often call mindsets “insurance policies”—they are there for you when you need them the most!
Three mindsets in particular are incredibly helpful, and can get you through those inevitable blindsiding moments in life:
1. “I need some time”
When you say something like “I just need some time," you are giving yourself the space to acknowledge and work through what you are going through, which is particularly helpful when you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed. This is not selfish!
So, instead of rushing to recover from a tough situation, give yourself time to feel your emotions. This will help you develop emotional flexibility: the ability to regulate your feelings and reduce their intensity in any given situation, tapping into your resilience reserves. Mastery over this mindset can really help you feel empowered during challenging times!
2. “I can handle what comes my way”
Reassuring yourself that you'll overcome your circumstances can go a long way, but you must practice this for it to become a long-term habit. A great way to do this is to think about times when you accomplished something difficult or coped and got through a really tough situation, write about it, and read it to remind yourself when you are struggling.
The more this becomes a habit, the more you will be able to let go of just focusing on the negative (thinking this “will end badly”) and understand that things may work out better this time. You will also be able to change and adapt to your circumstances, shifting your coping strategies and harnessing what you need most to get through what you are facing.
3. Saying “no”
Don't feel guilty for putting yourself first and saying no! Resilience should be more about prioritizing your needs by setting boundaries than about what the other person wants or needs.
In fact, saying no when you feel you need to will increase your wisdom and empathy, as you will better understand yourself and your needs. It will also give you the energy you need to actually be there for others when they need you. I often compare this to putting on your oxygen mask on a plane—you must take care of yourself before you can truly be there for others.
For more on mindsets that increase your resilience, listen to my podcast (episode #586). If you enjoy listening to my podcast, please consider leaving a 5-star review and subscribing. And keep sharing episodes with friends and family and on social media. (Don’t forget to tag me so I can see your posts!).
This podcast is sponsored by:
Purity Woods. As someone who prioritizes my mental and physical wellbeing and knows how closely the mind, brain and body are connected, I am always looking for products that help me look and feel my best each day, which can be a challenge. How often do you buy skincare products because they’re labeled as “clean” and “organic” and “paraben-free” only to find out there are a hundred other toxic ingredients in them that are damaging to your skin and body? Well, the search is over! Purity Woods’s mission is to provide people with the cleanest and most effective healthy aging and longevity products available. All of their products are USDA certified organic, non-GMO, free of anything artificial, free of toxic preservatives and synthetic additives like pesticides, chemical fertilizers and dyes, parabens, and of course it’s cruelty free and never tested on animals. Purity Woods’s products leverage the wonders of a revolutionary ingredient: maple leaf extract. Maple leaves contain anti-inflammatory antioxidants and hydrating properties, which can help soothe irritated or inflamed skin while also plumping, brightening and nourishing it. I really love their Age-Defying Dream Cream. It truly is a game changer! It helps make me look and feel like I have jumped back years in time. Which is not surprising, since its powerful formula contains revolutionary maple leaf extracts plus over 25 unique and potent ingredients that help eliminate fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and uneven skin tone. So turn back time on the appearance of your skin with Purity Woods’s Age-Defying Dream Cream! Purity Woods is currently offering 17% off sitewide but they have an additional 10% discount for my listeners for a total savings of 27%! Go to puritywoods.com/DRLEAF or enter code DRLEAF at checkout for an additional 10% off your first order.
Podcast Highlights
1:05 Unlocking your mental resilience
2:48 What mindsets are & why they are so powerful
4:08 We all can be resilient!
5:12 3 mindsets that will unlock your resilience
8:06 It’s ok to ask for space!
12:07, 15:56 The power of believing that you can handle what comes your way
19:39 The power of saying “no”
This podcast and blog are for educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. We always encourage each person to make the decision that seems best for their situation with the guidance of a medical professional.