7 Life Lessons for Strength:Be Strong Emotionally & Mentally

We often don’t value the small things and actions in life because we think they don’t have a direct impact on us. Whereas, in reality, they can have a very deep effect indirectly. This effect can either make us strong in life or weak. Now, how to stay mentally strong in life when life keeps testing you?

Every human being has their own way of dealing with challenges. Some break down easily, while others are strong enough to cope with them.

Why Emotional Strength Matters in Life

Having emotional strength doesn’t mean you’ll never struggle—it means you’ll be able to face challenges with calmness and confidence. Life constantly throws us problems, and each of us must discover our own life problems and solutions. This is how we grow, mature, and build inner strength that sustains us through both joy and hardship.

Strength Comes with Time and Experience

Psychiatrists say when a child gets in trouble, don’t run for help—rather, leave them alone so they can solve their own problems and build problem-solving ability and emotional strength. Life will always throw us into problems. Now, how we deal with these difficult situations shows strength or weakness. With growing age, we develop stronger abilities to face situations because from every mistake, trouble, and situation, there is always some lesson for us. This is how we learn how to overcome difficult situations in life and how to be strong emotionally and mentally.

Strength Is Not Permanent or Fixed

We think that if someone is weak, they would remain weak for their whole life, and if someone is strong enough, they would be strong forever. No—this is not the reality. Life always has a turning point. We have to manage every situation or problem and become strong enough to deal with life’s technicalities. This is why we must learn how to be strong psychologically, keep positive thinking during hard times, and know how to be mentally strong when everything goes wrong.

Real-Life Habits That Build Strength 

There are some simple habits to stay strong when life tests you. If we acquire them, they can give us enough strength and energy. I am not copy-pasting these from any online support, rather I am sharing what I personally feel and do when I feel very weak—and it gives me eternal satisfaction, emotional strength and healing, and enough power to deal with stress and anxiety.

1. How to Balance Physical Health and Mental Strength

I am a mother and live in a joint family. I don’t have enough time to do exercise—which is the best way to improve your physical health—but still, when I manage only a 20-minute Brisk walk before a meal, my body feels like it’s swaying with happiness. Trust me, your physical health has a deep impact on your mental health and abilities.

I am saying this because I have personally observed that whenever I skip it, my body feels like it’s strapped in constant struggle—always tired and worn out. When your body is exhausted, how can your mind stay calm? How can you respond peacefully to a serious problem when your whole being is drained?

In 24 hours, we should have at least 20 to 30 minutes for our physical health. Working on your physical health is the key to building inner strength and the strength of your mind and soul.

2. Talking to Yourself for Confidence and Clarity

When we get into a difficult situation, we often try to discuss it with family members or friends. It is good, but before that, I always talk to myself.

What is and what would be my key role in solving this situation?

Am I exaggerating it?

Am I hiding it from the world so that no one knows my problem and strength?

Should I discuss it with someone else?

What exactly is bothering me right now?

Am I looking for a solution—or just sympathy?

What would I do if I weren’t afraid of judgment or failure?

Ask questions of yourself—you’ll get the answer to your problems before discussing them with anyone else. You may discuss it later with whoever you want. Watch this simple video to learn how to talk to yourself out loud.

3. Talk to the Mirror

While talking to yourself, the best approach I have discovered is to talk to the mirror. I have earlier mentioned this too in another blog Haven’t You Cried Yet? Why? Cry… that you can cry in front of the mirror, which we usually do. But now I want to tell you: “Talk to the mirror.”

When I was practicing this, I was not able to speak in front of the mirror. I stood quietly and felt embarrassed, like in a situation where I feared what people would say, as if the mirror itself would judge me.

I attempted two times and failed in front of the mirror. But the third time, I started talking to it. I told the story; I told my role in the story. And unintentionally, I myself spoke out about the solution to my problem. Now what does this do to you? You are all alone. You are speaking, and you are listening to the voice. It’s that voice you’ve always kept to the side—the one people tried to silence. And when it finally reaches your own ears, it feels like someone genuine is truly listening, someone who truly sees you.

The impact of your own voice on your heart and mind is so deep that the first time you speak in front of a mirror, you’ll feel strength, confidence, and resilience within yourself. You’ll realize that you alone are enough to face your problems. This practice should become a routine—where your voice is loud, and the space around you is silent and empty. Just you and your voice. Even if the problem isn’t solved right away, you’ll still feel stronger than ever.

This is one of the hidden truths of daily practices for resilience and inner peace.

4. Benefits of Reading for Mental Strength

Now you might be thinking: We’re already struggling, we’re tired, we don’t even have time to solve our problems—and you’re suggesting we read?”

YES. Reading has such a strong impact on your mind, thinking, problem-solving abilities, and your strength as well.

Read whatever you are interested in—traveling, cooking, fashion, sports—and most importantly, personal growth and self-improvement. Daily reading opens up your mind, transforms the way you think, and makes you understand people better. As you sit alone, fighting your own battles in a quiet corner, it reveals the world to you.

A very simple technique is this: You are alone. You are reading someone else’s words—simple text, most of the time with a simple background. No colorful themes or arts, no heavy and sad music. Just plain text is enough to dominate the mind.

What is mind strength? Simplicity…

What Inspires Me?

As I have mentioned earlier, I am too busy in life. I do read some blogs and articles, but what gives me strength is reading and understanding the Quran. Even if you’re not a Muslim, you can still read the Quran as a book of stories and history. It holds timeless lessons, powerful narratives, and reflections on human nature that can resonate with anyone, regardless of belief.

5. Avoiding Social Media During Depression and Anxiety

This is the one thing you should avoid—not in routine—but when you are in anxiety, depression, or facing problems.

Why do this? The reason is: We are the sad generation with happy pictures and videos.

When we go through financial problems, and our lives lack children, love, food, or the chance to travel, seeing these blessings in other people’s lives often pushes us deeper into depression. We start believing that our struggle is ours alone. The colorful pictures and videos people share pull us inward, making us feel even more isolated and weaker. And the things that make us weaker should be kept hundreds of miles away from us.

This is one of the best ways to improve mental health—to cut off the sources of negativity when you are vulnerable.

6. How to Distance Yourself from Negative People for Mental Health

Just like colors blend when placed side by side, people absorb the habits and energies of those around them. As the phrase goes: “A melon takes color by looking at another melon.” People become like the company they keep.

If you want to be strong enough to handle life’s technicalities, stay away from people who never appreciate others’ efforts or emotions—who are always taunting, having evil eyes on others’ happiness and success. They will make you like them.

If you keep living like this, you’ll always burn quietly inside. Your mind will carry the weight of other people’s success and happiness. When you can’t even carry your own burdens, why place theirs on your shoulders? Stay strong within yourself—and choose to be happy, for your own sake.

This is a very important point—we must distance ourselves from people who pull us away from happiness and push us toward loneliness and weakness. It’s one of the main reasons so many people are suffering today: we stay surrounded by negative energy all the time. Getting out of it is difficult, but true success begins only after that—when we start understanding our thoughts and truly recognizing ourselves.

7. How to Stay Positive About Life When Facing Failures

In the Indian movie 3 Idiots, Aamir Khan says a memorable line: “All is well.”
If we reflect on our own lives—whether in good times or bad—this simple formula, All is well, can truly make everything feel okay.

It all depends on how we think. In any situation, our mind has the power to take things either in a negative direction or a positive one. If we move toward negativity, we start falling into a bottomless pit. But if we choose positivity and believe in All is well, our thinking becomes peaceful and focused. Even during tough times, we begin to seek calm and mature solutions.

On the other hand, negativity leads us toward emotional and impulsive decisions—often driven by anger and frustration.

So just believe:
Whatever happened – “All was well.”
Whatever is happening – “All is well.”

This is how you can practice how to stay positive about life and build motivation during tough times.

Motivation During Tough Times: A Gentle Reminder

Life doesn’t test us to break us—it tests us to show us how far we’ve come and how much stronger we can still become. Even in the hardest days, even when the road looks uncertain, trust that this moment is shaping a better version of you. You’re not alone, and your strength is growing with every step you take—even the slow ones. Keep going, because you’re doing better than you think.

These are timeless life lessons for strength, motivation during tough times, and ways to improve mental health.

Must share your thoughts in the comment section. How do you tackle your problems in life?

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