Discover how to develop your mental strength and reach your greatest potential with simple exercises and choices.

In this Harvard Business Review video, Amy Morin explains how to build mental strength. She clarifies the difference between being mentally strong and acting tough, and discusses how to tackle anxiety, challenge yourself, and build mental muscle. Morin emphasizes that mental strength is a continuum, and that everyone possesses it to some degree. She encourages viewers to recognize that failure is always a possibility, but they are strong enough to handle it if it happens. Finally, she suggests that people take small steps to challenge themselves and recognize that they are more capable than they think.

Learning Outline

1. Mental strength is like physical strength; it is on a continuum and we can always choose to become stronger.
2. Being mentally strong is different from acting tough; it is about being realistic and being prepared to handle failure if it occurs.
3. Anxiety is meant to keep us safe and alert, but can sometimes be a false alarm in today's world.
4. Building mental strength is about doing things that challenge you and recognizing what pushes you out of your comfort zone.
5. Keep challenging yourself at a moderate pace to train your brain to see yourself as more capable.
6. When taking risks, think about the worst case scenario and how you could handle it in a healthy way.
7. Keep challenging yourself to stay just uncomfortable enough to keep learning and growing.

Instructional Content

Mental strength is a powerful asset that can help us reach our fullest potential in life. While physical strength can be easily measured and quantified, mental strength is more complex and can take effort to cultivate. In this video, Amy Morin explains how we can build our mental strength and why it’s important.

One of the most important distinctions Morin makes is between being mentally strong and “acting tough.” She explains that when we’re mentally strong, we recognize that failure is a possibility and prepare ourselves to handle it if it happens. Instead of thinking positively, we should strive for realistic thinking, acknowledging our strengths and accepting potential failure.

Morin also explains how anxiety can get in the way of our mental strength. She explains that anxiety is designed to keep us safe, but in today’s world, it can be triggered by social or financial risks, rather than physical danger. To build mental strength, we need to recognize that we’re not in danger and use that knowledge to push ourselves to take risks.

Finally, Morin emphasizes that building mental strength is about challenging ourselves. We must recognize what is uncomfortable for us and take small steps to push ourselves outside of our comfort zone. With practice, we can train our brains to see ourselves as more capable and competent, and ultimately become mentally strong.

Mental strength is an invaluable asset that can help us reach our goals and reach our fullest potential. By watching this video, we can learn how to build our mental strength in a tangible, practical way. By recognizing the differences between being mentally strong and “acting tough,” taking risks even when we feel anxious, and challenging ourselves, we can build mental strength and reap its rewards in our lives.

Cognition

"Grow Your Cognitive Strength"

Cognition is a key area of study for individuals seeking to improve their skills. It involves the ability to think, remember, reason, and problem solve. This video provides an excellent guide to improving cognition in learners by highlighting the importance of mental strength, being resilient, and having the ability to adapt.

Mental strength is the most important factor in improving cognition. Amy Morin, in the video, explains that everyone has mental strength, but can choose to become stronger. This is done by making the right choices, doing the right exercises, and living one's life in a certain way. People can tell when they are not reaching their full potential, and this is often due to a mindset that is holding them back. It is important to remember that the difference between being mentally strong and acting tough is that the former is about recognizing failure may happen, but being strong enough to handle it.

The second important factor in improving cognition is resilience. Anxiety is meant to keep us safe, but our brains often confuse social rejection and small failures with physical danger. It is important to recognize when one is not in physical danger and that feeling scared does not mean one should not take a risk. Building mental strength involves doing things that challenge one, and it is different for everyone.

Finally, the ability to adapt and be flexible is essential for improving cognition. It is important to recognize what is uncomfortable for one and take steps to challenge oneself, even if it means speaking up in a meeting or asking for a raise. It is also important to remember that the more one challenges oneself at a moderate pace, the more one realizes they are stronger than they think. Taking a minute to imagine the worst case scenario and how one could handle it, can give one the courage to take the leap.

Overall, this video provides excellent guidance on how to improve cognition in learners. It emphasizes the importance of mental strength, resilience, and the ability to adapt and be flexible. With the right tools and strategies, everyone can become more cognitively flexible and increase their mental well-being.

Cognitive Flexibility

How to Harness Cognitive Flexibility?

Upskilling yourself and building your mental strength is essential for personal growth and professional development. Cognitive flexibility, or the ability to think flexibly and adapt to new situations, is an important part of this. As outlined in the video, Mental strength is a continuum and can always be improved. This means that we can always choose to become stronger, regardless of where we currently are.

One way to upskill yourself is to challenge yourself in small ways. This could be something like speaking up in a meeting or asking for a raise, things that might make you feel uncomfortable but will help foster growth. It's important to remember that feeling anxious in these situations is natural and can even be helpful, but it doesn't mean that you shouldn't take the risk.

Another way to build mental strength is to recognize when you're in physical danger and when it's just a false alarm. For example, if you're in a situation where you're asking for a raise, it's important to remember that the risk is not life-threatening. Recognizing that you're not in physical danger can help you take the necessary steps to move forward.

Finally, it's important to remember that mental strength is not the same as acting tough. Mental strength comes from recognizing that failure might happen but knowing that you're strong enough to handle it. This means that even if something doesn't work out, you have the resilience to handle it.

Building your mental strength is an important part of upskilling yourself and growing both personally and professionally. With the right tools and mindset, you can become a stronger and more capable person.

Mental Well-Being

Can Mental Strength Help Well-Being?

It is undeniable that developing mental strength is an essential component of personal growth and professional development. According to a recent survey, 83 percent of executives agreed that mental strength is the most important factor in achieving success. In the video, How to Build Your Mental Strength, Amy Morin explains that mental strength is like physical strength in that everyone possesses it to some degree. She then offers practical advice on how to become mentally stronger.

One of the key insights from the video is the importance of challenging oneself. This builds mental muscle, enabling us to increase our capabilities and our resilience. Morin provides a helpful example of this in action when she discusses the difference between acting tough and being mentally strong. She explains that while acting tough may involve statements of invincibility, being mentally strong involves recognizing that failure may happen, but being prepared to deal with it if it does.

The video also emphasizes the need to recognize when anxiety is a false alarm. Morin advises that it is important to distinguish between physical danger and small failures in the office, so that anxiety does not become a barrier to taking risks. Lastly, the video highlights the importance of being realistic about the potential outcomes of a situation. This involves understanding that failure is a possibility, and being able to handle it if it happens.

Overall, the video provides useful advice for developing mental strength. By upskilling oneself to become mentally stronger, it is possible to increase one’s potential for success in both personal growth and professional development.

Adaptability and Resilience

Can Mental Strength Foster Adaptability and Resilience?

Building mental strength is an essential component of personal and professional development. The video "How to Build Your Mental Strength", featuring Amy Morin, offers practical advice on how to become more mentally resilient and adaptive. Morin emphasizes that mental strength is a continuum and everyone can become stronger. It's all about the choices and exercises you do, and the way you choose to live your life. Mental strength is not the same as acting tough; it is about recognizing that failure may happen but being strong enough to handle it.

The video also offers advice on how to address and challenge false alarms caused by anxiety. It is important to recognize that physical dangers are not the same as social or financial risks. It is necessary to take small steps and challenge yourself in order to build mental strength, even if it is uncomfortable. This could be as simple as striking up a conversation at a networking event or responding to emails and saying no.

Upskilling yourself to be more successful requires mental strength and resilience. It is important to recognize that failure may happen, but to also remind yourself that you are strong enough to handle it. Practicing activities that challenge yourself, such as speaking up in meetings or taking risks, will help build up your mental strength and confidence. It is also important to remember that although it may be scary, it can be beneficial to take risks and stay just uncomfortable enough that you feel like you are growing and learning.

For Learners

Watching this video, How to Build Your Mental Strength is beneficial for personal and professional growth. It is important to recognize the difference between being mentally strong and acting tough. The video offers specific strategies on how to build mental strength, such as recognizing failure is an option and understanding that anxiety is meant to keep us safe. It also explains why we should challenge ourselves to be slightly uncomfortable, so that we can grow and learn.

The detriment to not learning the content of this video is that it is a missed opportunity to become mentally stronger. Being mentally strong is valuable to be successful in life, both personally and professionally. It will also help you reach your potential.

Using the ‘what’s in it for me’, ‘what’s in it for them’, ‘what’s in it for us’, and ‘what’s in it for the world’ approach to learning the content of this video will benefit you as a learner for personal growth and professional development. ‘What’s in it for me’ is that you can gain a better understanding of how to build mental strength, which will help you in life, both personally and professionally. ‘What’s in it for them’ is that you can become a better colleague, friend, or family member. ‘What’s in it for us’ is that you can help create a better environment in the workplace or home. ‘What’s in it for the world’ is that you can be a better leader and help create a better world.

Overall, watching this video on how to build your mental strength is beneficial for personal and professional growth. It offers strategies on how to become mentally stronger and why it is important to challenge yourself to be slightly uncomfortable. By understanding the content of this video, you can become a better colleague, friend, family member, and leader in the world.

For Employers

Watching the video, “How to Build Your Mental Strength” is a must-see for employers who want to gain a competitive edge in the market. The content of this video is a game-changer for employers who want to differentiate themselves from the competition, whether through their team’s mental strength or their customer’s perception of their products.

By watching the video, employers can learn the importance of mental strength and how to foster it in their team. It teaches that mental strength is not a black or white concept, but rather a continuum in which everyone has a certain amount. It explains how people can choose to become stronger, by making the right choices, engaging in exercises, and living a certain way. The video also explains the difference between being mentally strong and acting tough, and offers strategies on how to deal with anxiety and take risks.

Ultimately, employers will benefit from learning the content of this video as it will help them to recognize the importance of mental strength and equip them with strategies to foster it in their team. This will help employers to ensure their team is reaching their greatest potential and will be able to handle any situation they face. By fostering mental strength in their team, employers will be able to differentiate themselves from their competitors and ensure their customers and clients perceive them and their products more successfully.

Career Path

Completing a course in cognition based on the competencies of Cognitive Flexibility, Mental Well-Being, and Adaptability and Resilience can dramatically increase a person's ability to succeed in their career path. With these skills, they will be more employable, promotable, and purposeful.

For example, learning how to develop and maintain mental strength, as demonstrated in the video How to Build Your Mental Strength, and the transcript, can help a person become more confident, resilient and successful. A person with mental strength will be better equipped to take risks, such as asking for a promotion or applying for a new job, and have the confidence to know that they can handle any outcome.

A course in cognition can also help people build their mental strength by challenging themselves and recognizing that their anxiety doesn't mean that they are in real physical danger. Through practice and repetition, they can master the skills to approach uncomfortable situations with confidence and be more successful.

By taking a course in cognition, life-long learners can gain the skills they need to close the Skills Gap and get meaningful work in high demand, high growth industries. They will be able to develop skills that will help them become more employable, promotable, and purposeful. With the right mental attitude, they can set themselves up for success and achieve their career goals.

Meaning

"It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves" - Edmund Hillary

This quote is especially relevant to the video "How to Build Your Mental Strength" by Amy Morin. The video explains how mental strength is like physical strength; everyone has a certain amount, and it's up to us to choose to become stronger. We are all capable of making choices that can help us reach our highest potential. It is not the outside world and its difficulties that we must conquer, but ourselves. We must recognize our own mental strength and use it to take on challenges with courage and resilience.

Learning this is essential for learners and employers alike. Learners must understand that they can use their mental strength to reach their goals, while employers must recognize that their employees have this capacity and empower them to reach their potential. Mental strength can be incredibly powerful, and the quote from Edmund Hillary serves as a great reminder of this.

Takeaway

The most important key takeaway is that it's not about positive thinking and pretending everything will turn out right. It's about recognizing that failure is a possibility, but being mentally strong enough to handle it. It's also important to challenge yourself and step outside your comfort zone in order to build mental strength.