13 Things Mentally Strong People Don\'t Do: Take Back Your Power, Embrace Change, Face Your Fears, and Train Your Brain for Happiness and Success pdfdrive com

PRACTICE SELF-DISCIPLINE
Self-discipline isn’t something you either have or you don’t. Instead, everyone
has the ability to increase their self-discipline. Saying no to a bag of chips or a
couple of cookies requires self-control. As does exercising when you don’t feel
like it. Avoiding those mistakes that can derail your progress requires constant
vigilance and hard work.
Here are some things to keep in mind when working to increase your self-
control:
• Practice tolerating discomfort. Whether you’re feeling lonely and you’re
tempted to text message that ex who isn’t good for you or you’re craving a
sweet treat that will blow your diet, practice tolerating the discomfort.
Although people often convince themselves if they “give in just this once” it
will help, research shows otherwise. Each time you give in you reduce your
self-control.

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• Use positive self-talk. Realistic affirmations can help you resist temptation in
moments of weakness. Saying things like “I can do this” or “I’m doing a
great job working toward my goals” can help you stay on track.
• Keep your goals in mind. Focusing on the importance of your goals helps
decrease temptations. So if you focus on how good you’ll feel when your car
is paid off, you’ll be less tempted to make that purchase that will wreak
havoc on the month’s budget.
• Impose restrictions on yourself. If you know you’re likely to spend too much
money when you’re out with friends, only take a small amount of cash with
you. Take steps that make it difficult, if not impossible, for you to give in
when you’re faced with temptation.
• Create a list of all the reasons why you don’t want to repeat your mistake.
Carry this list with you. When you’re tempted to resort to your previous
behavior pattern, read this list to yourself. It can increase your motivation to
resist repeating old patterns. For example, create a list of reasons why you
should go for a walk after dinner. When you’re tempted to watch TV instead
of exercise, read the list and it may increase your motivation to move
forward.
LEARNING FROM MISTAKES WILL
MAKE YOU STRONGER
After quitting school at the age of twelve, Milton Hershey went to work at a
print shop, but he soon realized he wasn’t interested in a career in the printing
business. So he went to work at a candy and ice cream shop. At the age of
nineteen, he decided to open his own candy company. He gained financial
support from his family and got the business off the ground. However, the
company wasn’t successful and within a few years, he was forced to declare
bankruptcy.
Following his failed business attempt, he went to Colorado where he hoped to

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get rich in the booming silver mining industry. But he arrived too late and he
struggled to find work. He eventually found a job with another candy maker. It
was there that he learned how fresh milk made excellent candy.
Hershey moved to New York City to open his own candy business again. He
hoped the skills and information he had learned would help his second candy
venture become a success. But Hershey lacked funding, and there were too many
other candy stores in the area. Again, his endeavor failed. At this point, many
people in his family who had helped fund his entrepreneurial efforts shunned
him for his mistakes.
But Hershey didn’t give up. He moved back to Pennsylvania and opened a
caramel-making company. He made candy during the day and sold caramels on
the streets during the evenings with a pushcart. He eventually received a large
order and was able to secure a bank loan to fill it. As soon as the order was paid
for, Hershey was able to pay off the loan and launch the Lancaster Caramel
Company. Soon, he became a millionaire and one of the most successful
businesspeople in his area.
He continued to expand his business. He began making chocolate, and by
1900, he sold the Lancaster Caramel Company and opened a chocolate factory.
Hershey worked tirelessly on perfecting his chocolate formula. He quickly
became the only person in the United States to mass-produce milk chocolate,
and soon he began selling chocolate all over the world.
When sugar became scarce during World War I, Hershey established his own
sugar refinery in Cuba. But as soon as the war ended, the sugar market
collapsed. Once again, Hershey found himself in financial trouble. He borrowed
money from the bank, but he had to mortgage his properties until the loan was
paid off. Nevertheless, Hershey managed to get his business back in order and he
paid off the loan within two years.
Not only did he build a thriving chocolate factory, but he created a thriving
town. During the Great Depression, Hershey was able to keep his employees
working. He created a variety of buildings in the town, including a school, a
sports arena, and a hotel. The new construction employed many people.
Throughout all his success, he also became a great philanthropist. Hershey’s
ability to learn from his mistakes helped him go from running failed candy
businesses to owning the world’s biggest chocolate company. Even today, the

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town known as Hershey, Pennsylvania, is adorned with streetlights in the shape
of Hershey’s Kisses, and over three million visitors tour the Hershey’s world
chocolate factory to learn how Milton Hershey made chocolate go from a bean
to a bar.
When you view mistakes not as something negative but instead as an
opportunity to improve yourself, you’ll be able to devote time and energy into
making sure you don’t repeat them. In fact, mentally strong people are often
willing to share their mistakes with other people in an effort to help prevent them
from making the same mistakes.
In the case of Kristy, she felt enormous relief once she was able to stop yelling
at her children every day. She learned that it was normal for her kids to break the
rules at times, but she had choices in how she responded. She felt like their home
was a much happier place when they weren’t yelling at one another. When
Kristy stopped repeating her discipline mistakes and was able to impose
effective consequences for her kids, she felt more in control of herself and of her
life.