Eight Ways to Hone Your Mental Grit

Leadership coach Neeta Bhushan tells us how

The lockdown over the past few months can take a toll on our mental health; just take a look at the wave of digital services that help people heal during self-quarantine at home. But what can we do to get back into a winning mindset? We turn to Neeta Bhushan, leadership coach and author of Emotional GRIT, who gives us ways to get out of the funk and bounce back with the power of resilience

1 GROW YOURSELF

Many times we forget who we are because we are so busy trying to do, do, do and go, go, go. We forget what we enjoy, and what truly brings us joy. So it starts with growing yourself. A new book, an online course, a hobby, a side passion project. These are examples that will naturally increase your dopamine to give you more inspiration, motivation, and happiness because you are learning something new.

2 ACCEPT WHAT YOU CANNOT CONTROL

This is mental fitness 101. We can try to control our emotions. But if we cannot first accept that we cannot control everything, this will not set you free. There will be times where things are in your control and things are in chaos. How can you swim through the chaos without going crazy? Acceptance of the situation and of your current reality. You will sleep better at night.

3 ACTIVATE THE POWER OF MANTRAS AND POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS

You see athletes and Olympians do this naturally. Right before they go for a match or begin their game, mantras and positive affirmations as simple as ‘you got this’ or ‘I can do this’ or ‘I am amazing’ can get you through tough times. Many of my clients who have fears of public speaking heal their fears instantly and use this before a presentation, and not only does it calm the nervous system, it also trains your brain subconsciously to replace any limiting beliefs about something that you may have.

4 CHANNEL YOUR NEGATIVE EMOTIONS INTO HELPING SOMEONE ELSE OUT

If you are feeling in a funk, the best way to snap out of it is to turn from ‘why me’ to ‘how can I help someone else?’ This is called altruism. When you can pay it forward, or contribute to someone’s else’s wellbeing, it can be a very healing experience for you and more so for the person you are helping out.

5 LEAN INTO YOUR RIGHT BRAIN

Yes, your creative, reflective, innovative, brain. Activities that get you into a natural state of flow like painting, pottery, gardening, dancing, drawing, writing, composing, singing all are just some examples of activating your right brain which in turn builds your mental fitness and naturally activates parts of your brain that are not in problem solving or fight/flight mode that majority of us are in on a daily basis.

6 CELEBRATE YOUR WINS EVERY DAY

This is a gratitude practice that many of my students and clients from all walks of life have incorporated. And this gives you an opportunity to find the silver lining even in the toughest of circumstances that you may face each day. A small win or a big win—they all count and brings us back to being appreciative and thankful while also training our brain to see the ‘good’ that we experience daily.

7 LAUGH

Humour naturally builds resilience, since people that laugh a lot don’t take things too seriously or personally! It’s why comedians and comedy in general have a way of talking about tough topics but allowing you to laugh as well which is a skill few people can master. But science and research shows laughter can create positive wellbeing and allows you to be less tense, lowers high blood pressure, and elevates your natural feel good hormones!

8 EMBRACE THE DISCOMFORT

Just like you would feel the discomfort in holding plank for 2 minutes, or doing 50 burpees without stopping. These are tools to train our mind that we are stronger than we think. Our mind knows that the plank and burpees will soon be over and we will reap the rewards, (in this case, a great workout, or a completed exercise set). This is the same with an unfamiliar or uncomfortable feeling. If we allow ourselves, and train ourselves to embrace it, we can gain even a deeper insight into ourselves. What does this emotion really mean? Is it telling me to slow down? Pay attention to the discomfort and learn from it.