People Who Are Mentally & Emotionally Strong Almost Always Prioritize 5 Things In Life, Finds Study
KOTOIMAGES | ShutterstockPeople who are mentally and emotionally strong live life differently than the rest of us. In fact, their priorities are unique thanks to their unflappable resilience.
According to a recent study by psychologist Antonis Chatzipanagiotou, people with emotional and mental fortitude are resilient "against existential collapse,” because of these unique priorities. They're living life right and only getting stronger for it.
A study found the things mentally & emotionally strong people prioritize in life:
1. Effective stress
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Most people would assume that all stress is bad, but as an inevitable part of life, it's not exactly as black and white as that. In his research, Chatzipanagiotou noted that effective stress, sometimes called eustress, energizes the nervous system rather than overwhelming it. For example, this may be an actor going to an audition. It’s a challenge, but for them it is more energizing than overwhelming. Kind of like the elation you feel after presenting during a meeting.
People who are resilient will seek out challenges that give them a thrill but don’t put them in a stress loop that only causes distress. There's an emotional payoff for the stress they willingly take on.
2. Effective success
This is similar to effective stress in that the person feels they can move on from a particular endeavor because they've reached a high enough level of success or experience to take on something new. For example, an employee is promoted after consistently performing well and receiving feedback from their manager. The promotion feels earned, so they feel prepared to take on new responsibilities instead of feeling like they suddenly have to live up to an unexpected title.
Their success encourages continued growth rather than leaving them feeling disoriented and undeserving. To resilient people, it's important for their success to be effective, or else they aren't fulfilled and ready to move on.
3. Temporal distribution, which is basically just rest
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According to Chatzipanagiotou, resilient people take breaks in between moments of hard work. They take time to rest and reflect on the process and its potential impact on their future. According to Karina Petrova, who reported on Chatzipanagiotou's findings, “Without this temporal structure, experiences feel chaotic, and the brain cannot consolidate a sense of meaning.”
Resilient people learn from their experiences, whether good or bad. They take time to understand what has just happened to them and how to use it to better themselves in the future. Imagine a student who sets a goal to improve their grades over the school year. They celebrate earning a higher score on one quiz, then doing well on a midterm, and finally earning an A in the course. Because these successes are distributed over time, each achievement reinforces their motivation and helps them continue progressing.
4. Contextual relevance because context is always important
A good life skill to have is knowing your core values and morals. This is important, especially for adolescents who are learning how to make decisions that benefit their future.
Contextual relevance is the ability to know if where you are is where you want to be. For example, someone who sets out to become a successful entrepreneur may achieve their goals but end up hating the person they have become. Resilient people are able to assess and make the appropriate changes to their life.
5. Narrative simulation or keeping goals and desires realistic and achievable
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This is the ability to, as Petrova described it, “imagine a realistic, desirable future and construct firm plans to get there.” Unfortunately, this is a difficult skill to adopt.
Many people, including myself, like to believe that anything is possible. We set out goals and hope for the best. However, the most emotionally and mentally strong people are able to be realistic about their goals. They set themselves up for success.
Sophie Bagheri is a writer with a bachelor’s degree in English and theatre who covers lifestyle topics.
