4 Lies You Need to Stop Telling Yourself to Become Mentally Stronger

We are constantly lying to ourselves – that is, we tell ourselves things that aren’t just unhealthy, but are also untrue. Experts call this cognitive distortion, something we are all guilty of doing this at least once in our lives.

Over the years, we have unknowingly cultivated a web of lies that we believe to be true. But to nurture your mental strength, you need to recognize the wrong things that we tell ourselves. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy – but the good news is that there are ways to make your brain your greatest friend as suggested by psychotherapist Amy Morin:

‘Too Different’

Because of the pressure imposed upon us to fit in, we sometimes become so inundated with thoughts of being too different from the rest of our peers. However, the time and energy consumed in this kind of thinking will not do anyone good.

Ivan Kislitsin/Shutterstock — We tend to feel bad when we don’t fit in

Plus, being unique can be a good thing if you want to. There are many ways for you to take advantage of what makes you stand out from the rest.

‘Not Good Enough’

This is one of the most overused lies we have been keeping in mind – and sometimes, this statement is so sinister that we tend to allow it to take over our life. It can come in many forms: we may feel we are not good-looking enough, intelligent enough, or simply enough, thereby hindering ourselves from bringing out our full potential.

Fizkes/Shutterstock — We are holding back ourselves when we feel we are not good enough

That’s not all; it can also adversely affect our performance or, worse, our mental health. If you keep telling yourself that you’re not good enough, you won’t likely try. As such, you will not even take the first step in reaching your dreams.

‘Can’t Tolerate’

One of the most-used excuses to stop attempting anything in life is when we tell ourselves that ‘we can’t stand it.’ However, we usually use this reason because we can’t grapple with the thought of being in an uncomfortable situation.

Fizkes/Shutterstock We also don’t want to be in an uncomfortable situation

Instead of fixating on that mindset, bear in mind that you have chosen this work. This little tweak in how you think can make a lot of difference in the way you empower yourself. Always remember to make wise decisions that should be based on the thought that you want better things for yourself and not just because you feel awkward about the unknown.

‘Mental Health Is a Hindrance’

While people struggling with mental health problems deserve some slack, there are also ways on how they can be mentally strong. It’s constantly battling yourself in what should be believed or not.

However, there are exercises that can boost your mind and body, and Amy suggests making good choices every day. Meditation and mindfulness are a great start to your journey.